St. Mary's Catholic Church (Fredericksburg, Texas) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Catholic Church
St. Mary's Catholic Church in 2017
St. Mary's Catholic Church Location in Texas Show map of Texas St. Mary's Catholic Church Location in the United States Show map of the United States
30°16′37″N 98°52′35″W / 30.27694°N 98.87639°W / 30.27694; -98.87639
Location	306 W. San Antonio St. Fredericksburg, Texas
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	http://church.stmarysfbg.com/
History
Status	Parish church
Dedicated	1906
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Leo M.J. Dielmann
Style	Gothic Revival
Years built	1905 (1905)-1906 (1906)
Administration
Diocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio

Old St. Mary's Church (1863) in 2017

A sign from the Texas Historical Commission at the church

St. Mary's Catholic Church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located at 306 West San Antonio Street in Fredericksburg, Texas. It is an important part of the town's history and a special place for many people.

A Look Back at St. Mary's Church

The First Church: Old St. Mary's

The very first Catholic church in Fredericksburg was a simple log house built in 1848. This was a time when many German immigrants were settling in Texas.

Later, in 1861, people started building a stronger church made of stone. This new building was finished in 1863. Today, this old stone church is called Old St. Mary's. After the current church was built, Old St. Mary's was used for different things, like a schoolhouse. Because of its important role in the history of German settlers in Texas, it was recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1994.

St. Mary's Church Today

By 1901, the old church building was too small for all the people who wanted to attend services. So, a new, much larger church was designed. A famous architect from San Antonio named Leo M.J. Dielmann created the plans. The church was built by a contractor named Jacob Wagner and was completed in 1906.

The current St. Mary's Church has many features of the Gothic Revival style. You can see strong supports called buttresses on the outside walls. There are also decorative shapes called trefoil motifs, which look like three-leaf clovers. A tall corner tower rises high above the roof, making the church easy to spot.

Inside the church, you will find amazing paintings and murals. These artworks cover the organ pipes and even the curved ceilings. Because of these beautiful paintings, St. Mary's Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a "painted church." It is also part of the larger Fredericksburg Historic District and is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

The church campus also includes Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. This church, located at 302 East College Street, first opened in 1919. It closed for a while in the 1940s. Then, in 1983, it reopened as a mission of St. Mary's, especially for people who speak Spanish.

More to Explore

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gillespie County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Gillespie County

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Fredericksburg) para niños