Emmanuel Episcopal Church
SE corner of N. Church and Walnut Sts., Lockhart, TXThe Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Lockhart, which has been used continuously for Episcopal services since its founding in 1856, is probably the oldest Protestant Church in Texas.
Reverend Joseph Wood Dunn, the founding missionary, visited Lockhart in 1853 and organized an Episcopal parish. However, after the visitation of the Diocesan Bishop the following year, there was intense opposition to the new Episcopal faith by the townspeople and they denied the Episcopalians the only building in town available for public worship. Thus, Reverend Dunn and his parishioners decided to construct their own building. Dunn reported that four men agreed to build the roof and windows if he could provide for the construction of the walls.
In 1854 they laid a foundation of white limestone and with further donations, they were able to complete the new church in 1856.
The walls were constructed of a substantial material of rock and native cement. Hand-hewn cedar timbers were hauled to Lockhart by ox teams from Indianola near Port Lavaca. The building must have been an impressive one for this small frontier town, for when the Bishop visited the new church in 1857 he stated that the structure was "a neat building, quite churchlike, and excellently adapted to one of the great purposes of a Protestant Church, the preaching of the Gospel. It is the easiest church to speak in that I am acquainted with, and, in reference to the science of acoustics is worthy of imitation." (Centennial Brochure, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1953)
Dunn served as the pastor of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the surrounding communities of Seguin, Gonzales, and Bastrop for several years. In 1858 he left Lockhart to help found the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
During the Civil War, it is told that the Union troops quartered in Lockhart and used the church as a stable for their horses. Other sources state that the church was used as a hospital. Whatever its secular use, records indicate the church continued to be used for religious services throughout the war.
The Emmanuel Episcopal Church is not only significant to the spread of the Episcopal faith in Texas but stands as the oldest known Protestant Church in the state. In addition, as one of the earliest structures in Lockhart, the church is an important landmark of local history.
Local significance of the building:
Reverend Joseph Wood Dunn, the founding missionary, visited Lockhart in 1853 and organized an Episcopal parish. However, after the visitation of the Diocesan Bishop the following year, there was intense opposition to the new Episcopal faith by the townspeople and they denied the Episcopalians the only building in town available for public worship. Thus, Reverend Dunn and his parishioners decided to construct their own building. Dunn reported that four men agreed to build the roof and windows if he could provide for the construction of the walls.
In 1854 they laid a foundation of white limestone and with further donations, they were able to complete the new church in 1856.
The walls were constructed of a substantial material of rock and native cement. Hand-hewn cedar timbers were hauled to Lockhart by ox teams from Indianola near Port Lavaca. The building must have been an impressive one for this small frontier town, for when the Bishop visited the new church in 1857 he stated that the structure was "a neat building, quite churchlike, and excellently adapted to one of the great purposes of a Protestant Church, the preaching of the Gospel. It is the easiest church to speak in that I am acquainted with, and, in reference to the science of acoustics is worthy of imitation." (Centennial Brochure, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 1953)
Dunn served as the pastor of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the surrounding communities of Seguin, Gonzales, and Bastrop for several years. In 1858 he left Lockhart to help found the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.
During the Civil War, it is told that the Union troops quartered in Lockhart and used the church as a stable for their horses. Other sources state that the church was used as a hospital. Whatever its secular use, records indicate the church continued to be used for religious services throughout the war.
The Emmanuel Episcopal Church is not only significant to the spread of the Episcopal faith in Texas but stands as the oldest known Protestant Church in the state. In addition, as one of the earliest structures in Lockhart, the church is an important landmark of local history.
Architecture; Religion
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.
The discovery of oil in 1901 near Beaumont, Texas, sparked an oil boom that transformed the state's economy and led to the rise of the modern petroleum industry.
About Caldwell County
Caldwell County Timeline
Caldwell County, located in central Texas, has a rich and storied history dating back thousands of years. The area was first inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Tonkawa and Lipan Apache. In the 18th century, Spanish settlers began exploring and settling the region, establishing missions and ranches.
In 1834, Mexican impresario, Green DeWitt, received a land grant from the Mexican government and began attracting American settlers to the area. The town of Lockhart, named after James W. Lockhart, one of DeWitt's surveyors, was established in 1838 and became the county seat in 1848. The county was officially organized the following year.
During the Civil War, Caldwell County, like much of Texas, was divided in its loyalties. Many residents sided with the Confederacy and fought in the war, while others were Union sympathizers. The conflict left deep scars on the county, but it managed to recover and thrive in the post-war years.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Caldwell County's economy was primarily agricultural, with cotton being a major crop. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s boosted economic growth and allowed for easier transportation of goods. Over time, the county diversified its economy, with industries such as oil and gas, cattle ranching, and manufacturing becoming prominent.
Today, Caldwell County is known for its historic charm, scenic beauty, and a strong sense of community. It is home to several notable landmarks, including the Caldwell County Courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county continues to evolve and adapt, while also preserving its rich history and heritage.
In 1834, Mexican impresario, Green DeWitt, received a land grant from the Mexican government and began attracting American settlers to the area. The town of Lockhart, named after James W. Lockhart, one of DeWitt's surveyors, was established in 1838 and became the county seat in 1848. The county was officially organized the following year.
During the Civil War, Caldwell County, like much of Texas, was divided in its loyalties. Many residents sided with the Confederacy and fought in the war, while others were Union sympathizers. The conflict left deep scars on the county, but it managed to recover and thrive in the post-war years.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Caldwell County's economy was primarily agricultural, with cotton being a major crop. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s boosted economic growth and allowed for easier transportation of goods. Over time, the county diversified its economy, with industries such as oil and gas, cattle ranching, and manufacturing becoming prominent.
Today, Caldwell County is known for its historic charm, scenic beauty, and a strong sense of community. It is home to several notable landmarks, including the Caldwell County Courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The county continues to evolve and adapt, while also preserving its rich history and heritage.
Caldwell County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Caldwell County, Texas.
- 1848 - The Republic of Texas holds a land lottery and grants land in the area to settlers.
- 1849 - Caldwell County is officially established.
- 1852 - The county seat is named Lockhart.
- 1876 - The first courthouse in Lockhart is built.
- 1887 - The discovery of oil in the county brings prosperity.
- 1922 - The current Caldwell County Courthouse is constructed.
- 1948 - The Chisholm Trail Museum is established in Lockhart.
- 1984 - The Circuit of the Americas racetrack is built in the county.