History of Christ Episcopal Church
Nacogdoches, Texas
Foundation
In 1847, a Philadelphia debutante appeared before the General Convention of the Episcopal Church meeting in her hometown, to plead for the establishment of the Episcopal Church in East Texas. Mrs. Frances Cox Henderson was the wife of General James Pinkney Henderson, the first governor of the State of Texas and the diplomatic Minister to France during the period when Texas had been a Republic and was recognized as a sovereign state by European powers such as France. The board of Missions of the Episcopal in the United States heard Mrs. Henderson's description of the pressing need for this ministry, and in 1848 sent the Reverend Henry Sansom to San Augustine, Texas. Henry Sansom was a native of Nottingham, England who had but recently emigrated to New York. The mission to East Texas was his first ministry in the United States. A few days after Sansom's arrival, Judge Amos Clark of Nacogdoches was attending court in San Augustine. He met the clergyman and urged him to establish a church at Nacogdoches in addition to the one he hoped to found in San Augustine. On June 9-10, 1848, Henry Sansom visited Nacogdoches. He held the town's first Episcopal Church worship service in the Nacogdoches courthouse on Sunday 14, June 1848. Shortly afterwards, Bishop George W. Freeman organized Texas as a missionary Diocese.
Christ Church and the History of Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas, is known as a "city of churches". Among so many, Christ Church stands out not only as the oldest non-Roman Catholic congregation in the city, but also because it claims as active members, and participants in its establishment and growth, many of the very persons who were leaders in the tumultuous history and growth of Texas itself. Judge Amos Clark became its first Senior Warden. Col. Hayden H. Edwards (Impresario of the Fredonia Republic), Frost Thorn (Texas' first millionaire), Judge Richard S. Walker (Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas), and others equally prominent in the early history of Texas and of Nacogdoches, all served on the Vestry. All were also original subscribers to the Nacogdoches University and most served as aldermen for the city. Other prominent citizen-members included: Col. Henry Raguet (father of Anna Raguet, Sam Houston's true love), Dr. James Harper Starr (Surgeon-General of the Texas Army and Texas Secretary of the Treasury), Dr. Robert Irion (Texas Secretary of State and Anna Raguet's husband), Judge William B. Ochiltree (Secretary-Treasurer of Texas), Capt. Henry Hancock (Mayor and confederate Commander), and Capt. Frederick Voigt (Mayor, Postmaster, confederate commander, and prominent Texas State Senator).
Frost Thorn gave the church's building site, Judge Clark gave $500 in gold, and building was begun, but proceeded slowly. The timbers were hand-hewn, and the lumber was sawed with "whip" saws. Services continued to be held in the courthouse until the church building was completed in 1852. Bishop Freeman consecrated the structure in 1855. Christ Church was the only protestant church building in Nacogdoches during that time and the land from Main Street to its front door became known, and still is known, as "Church Street".
War and Reconstruction
The Rev. Elijah H. Downing and then the Rev. C. H. Albert succeeded Henry Sansom in ministry to Christ Church. The Rev. John Owen served the Church during the War Between the States, followed by the Rev. D.O.B. Treater in 1864 and the Rev. Alexander Dobbs from 1865 to 1869. In 1869, the Rev. R.D. Schindler came to serve as rector. After Schindler's death, the Church was served for many years by its laity. During that time, Capt. A.A. Nelson (a colorful figure who had sailed his ship 'round the Horn') was the Lay Reader in charge. Mrs. John H. Cox was Superintendent of the Sunday School and Mrs. E.A. Ingraham served as its Secretary. During the Reconstruction period, Christ Church had the only protestant Sunday School in the city. By 1887, Christ Church again had a Rector, in the person of the Rev. Charles H.B. Turner.
The Ministry of the Rev. Dr. George L. Crockett
In 1888, the Rev. George L. Crockett began his long and fruitful services as Rector of Christ Church, and the parish took on new life. Crockett also served San Augustine, his birthplace, during the same years. In addition, he served exclusively in San Augustine for another 18 years. The Rev. G.L. Crockett was a renowned historian, and his memoirs, entitled Two Centuries in East Texas, is still considered one of the definitive histories of this area. In 1929, he became Professor Emeritus of History at the newly-established Stephen F. Austin State Normal School. He also founded the first Boy Scout Troop in Nacogdoches. Under Crockett's leadership, the church purchased a site on the campus of Nacogdoches University at the southwest corner of Washington Square. Vestryman Dietrich A.G. Rulfs, Nacogdoches' most famous architect, designed and built a new, modern, brick church. Ceiling beams created by Rulfs are in the present nave, and some of the old bricks he fashioned by hand can be seen in the Gothic arches outlining the exterior of the side windows. This church building was consecrated by Bishop Alexander Gregg at the turn of the century.
Early 20th Century through World War II
George Crockett was followed by the Rev. T.S. Sloan, the Rev. Jeptha Swann, and the Rev. Charles D. Atwell. Dr. Crockett then returned as Rector for four years, from 1926 to 1930. The Rev. Hugh St. G. Murray, Rector from 1930, was succeeded in 1933 by the Rev. Orin G. Helvey, who took over with all the vigor he had displayed in playing all-Southern football at Sewanee. By this time, Nacogdoches High School occupied the "Old" Nacogdoches University grounds and the "new" Stephen F. Austin Normal School had opened its doors a couple of miles to the north. Thus, plans were soon underway to move "from the High School to the College". Except for a widening of the chancel to allow more room for the choir, the present Church building, which is located on the corner of Mound St. and East Starr Ave. on the southern edge of the SFA campus, has incorporated all of Dietrich Rulfs' original design in its new location. It was consecrated by Bishop Clinton S. Quinn on 12 May, 1940.
Plans for a parish house were interrupted by World War II and the Rector's departure for a military chaplaincy. For the first months of the war, Christ Church was again served by its Lay Readers. The Rev. W. Landless Shannon accepted a call in December, 1942, and served until the summer of 1945. Lay Readers again served until the Rev. Scott Field Bailey, newly discharged from the Navy, became its Rector in February, 1946. During his tenure, an attached parish hall was finally completed. This building now houses the Rector's office, the choir room, and the Whited Library). The establishment of Christ Episcopal School was another of Scott Field Bailey's many lasting accomplishments. Christ Church, Nacogdoches was delighted and proud when its former Rector, the Rev. Scott Field Bailey, was elected Suffagan Bishop of the Diocese of Texas.
Post-War to the Present
In 1951, the Rev. H. Raymond Kearby came to Christ Church and served until he was succeeded by the Rev. John A. Desel in 1958. During Jack Desel's ministry, which continued through 1967, Christ Church, along with the town of Nacogdoches, SFA, and the world at large, saw much change and many growing pains. The small rural SFA College became a major State University, and its students and faculty flocked to Christ Church, looking for ways to retain the traditions and values of the "old days" while being open to the challenges and opportunities of an entirely "new world". Fr. Desel's "volunteer" chaplaincy to the SFA community was a powerful a witness as Mrs. Henderson's had been, and in 1970, as a result of his efforts, the SFA chaplaincy was established. Also during this period, the Christ Church Guild acquired the "Serendipity House" next door to the Church property, thus allowing for growth and expansion in various creative ways.
The Rev. Michael C. Macey, Jack Desel's successor, built a new parish hall and rectory. Following the tenure of the Rev. William V. Kegler, the Rev. Jack G. Murray came to Christ Church and while serving as Rector, completed another school building in addition to the parish hall. The Rev. Douglas J. Tucker was Rector from April 1983 until 1992. He saw that the time was coming when the expending congregation would outgrow its tiny Gothic-inspired building. He convened a long-range planning committee, and in 1990, after much prayer and consideration of many options, a careful addition was made to the nave and south narthex. The enlarged church, along with a glorious new pipe organ, the gift of Adlai W. Mast, was consecrated by diocesan Bishop Maurice M. Benitez in 1994. The Rev. Frank B. Mangum accepted the call to become Rector of Christ Church in 1993. Fr. Mangum attended seminary at the University of the South, Sewanee, TN. He has since served five terms as a Sewanee Trustee from the Diocese of Texas. Fr. Gary Hill served from February 1, 1997 through August 31, 2010.
Since 1970, Christ Church has enjoyed the services of a series of chaplains assigned by the Diocese of Texas to minister to the Stephen F. Austin State University community: students, faculty and staff. They have included the Rev. J. Chris Hines, the Rev. Stephen H. Bancroft, the Rev. Michael L. Falls, and the Rev. Wayland N. Coe. Wayland Coe also served as Christ Church's first Assistant Rector. He was succeeded by the Rev. Bill Dickson as Chaplain and Assistant to the Rector from June, 1994 until January, 1996. Fr.Earl Sheffield, III followed before a series of Laypeople served as chaplain, including Patsy Barham, Greg Fort, and Scott Harris. After that period Christ Church was able to call an assistant priest , the Rev'd Stephen Whaley, who served as Chaplain to Stephen F. Austin State University until he was called to serve at All Saint's in Stafford, Texas. Mary Adams currently serves as Missioner to Stephen F. Austin State University.
Christ Church was established in 1851 and Christ Episcopal School in 1948.
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