Old St. Luke's Episcopal Church
a.k.a. Old Episcopal Church Building
401 N. Wall St., Belton, TXIn 1860 Bishop Alexander Gregg, the first Bishop of Texas organized the Episcopal families in and around Belton, Texas into a Missionary District. It was not until 1874, after the intervening "War Between the States" that St. Luke's Episcopal Church was built. The building lot, located in Belton on the Southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Wall Streets, was purchased from a church family for the sum of sixty dollars.
The walls of the building were constructed of hand-cut quarry rock from Bell County. Midway through the construction of the building, the congregation ran out of funds. Appeals for help were made, and contributions came in from Episcopal churches in Galveston, Houston, Waco, Navasota, and Bryan. The building was completed and has survived a hundred years, making it the oldest church building standing in Belton.
Inside the church are beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were supplied by New York Churches, who through the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society also provided salaries for the early clergy. The native stone bell tower was added many years later in 1949. The stone for the tower was donated by a farmer from a fence on his nearby farm. The bell had been purchased in 1882. The tower project was instituted in an effort to unify the congregation, which had been without a resident minister for seven years.
The church is a Belton landmark loved by generations of citizens. Until the congregation was forced to move in 1969, the church was in continuous use. The door was always open, and an outside sign beside the front door invited the community to: "Enter - Rest - Think and Pray". Close to several schools, it is known that both teachers and students did drop by, especially during the period of World War II.
Local significance of the building:
The walls of the building were constructed of hand-cut quarry rock from Bell County. Midway through the construction of the building, the congregation ran out of funds. Appeals for help were made, and contributions came in from Episcopal churches in Galveston, Houston, Waco, Navasota, and Bryan. The building was completed and has survived a hundred years, making it the oldest church building standing in Belton.
Inside the church are beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were supplied by New York Churches, who through the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society also provided salaries for the early clergy. The native stone bell tower was added many years later in 1949. The stone for the tower was donated by a farmer from a fence on his nearby farm. The bell had been purchased in 1882. The tower project was instituted in an effort to unify the congregation, which had been without a resident minister for seven years.
The church is a Belton landmark loved by generations of citizens. Until the congregation was forced to move in 1969, the church was in continuous use. The door was always open, and an outside sign beside the front door invited the community to: "Enter - Rest - Think and Pray". Close to several schools, it is known that both teachers and students did drop by, especially during the period of World War II.
Architecture; Religion; Social History
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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The state of Texas was once an independent country known as the Republic of Texas. It gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and was a separate nation until it was annexed by the United States in 1845.
About Bell County
Bell County Timeline
Bell County, located in central Texas, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche. European settlers began arriving in the early 19th century, with the first permanent settlement established in 1850 by Thomas M. Bigham, who built a log cabin near the Lampasas River.
The county was officially established in 1850 and named after Governor Peter H. Bell. It quickly grew as more settlers arrived to take advantage of the fertile land and abundant natural resources. Agriculture, particularly cotton farming, became the primary industry in the region, with the first cotton gin built in 1853. The county also became an important shipping point due to its proximity to the Chisholm Trail, which was used to drive cattle to markets in the north.
During the Civil War, Bell County played a significant role in supporting the Confederate cause. Several Confederate camps were established in the area, and the county experienced some military action, including the Battle of Stampede Valley in 1863. After the war, the county began to recover and diversify its economy. The railroad arrived in the late 19th century, bringing further growth and development.
In the 20th century, Bell County continued to experience growth and modernization. Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the country, was established in 1942. The presence of the military base provided a significant economic boost to the county and continues to be a major employer and contributor to the local economy. Today, Bell County is a thriving community with a diverse economy that includes agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and military-related industries.
The county was officially established in 1850 and named after Governor Peter H. Bell. It quickly grew as more settlers arrived to take advantage of the fertile land and abundant natural resources. Agriculture, particularly cotton farming, became the primary industry in the region, with the first cotton gin built in 1853. The county also became an important shipping point due to its proximity to the Chisholm Trail, which was used to drive cattle to markets in the north.
During the Civil War, Bell County played a significant role in supporting the Confederate cause. Several Confederate camps were established in the area, and the county experienced some military action, including the Battle of Stampede Valley in 1863. After the war, the county began to recover and diversify its economy. The railroad arrived in the late 19th century, bringing further growth and development.
In the 20th century, Bell County continued to experience growth and modernization. Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the country, was established in 1942. The presence of the military base provided a significant economic boost to the county and continues to be a major employer and contributor to the local economy. Today, Bell County is a thriving community with a diverse economy that includes agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and military-related industries.
Bell County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Bell County, Texas.
- 1834 - Bell County is established by the Republic of Texas
- 1850 - The first permanent settlement, known as Nolanville, is established
- 1851 - A post office is established in the town of Belton
- 1852 - The county seat is moved from Nolanville to Belton
- 1858 - The Belton Female College is founded
- 1861-1865 - Bell County is heavily impacted by the American Civil War
- 1870 - The Houston and Texas Central Railway arrives in Bell County, boosting economic growth
- 1881 - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is founded in Belton
- 1892 - The town of Temple is established as a railroad town
- 1913 - The Santa Fe Railroad builds a major railroad station in Temple
- 1920s - Bell County experiences an oil boom
- 1957 - Construction begins on the Fort Hood military base
- 1980s - Bell County's economy diversifies with the growth of healthcare and technology industries
- 2005 - The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery is established in Killeen