Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School
503 N. Queen St., Palestine, TXSacred Heart Catholic Church of Palestine is an excellent example of the High Victorian Gothic Revival style. Intricate details executed in local brick attest the capabilities of architect Nicholas J. Clayton. Having served the Palestine area for more than eighty five years, the structure is the only remaining example of Clayton's Victorian Gothic design in east Texas.
The church stands on a lot originally deeded to the Bishop of the Houston-Galveston Diocese in 1873 by the International and Great Northern Railroad for construction of a Catholic Church. Completed that same year, the original thirteen by sixty foot structure was called St. Joseph's. In May, 1890, the church, along with all church records and possessions, was destroyed by fire.
Plans were made immediately for the construction of a new church; original architectural drawings, still in possession of the church, are dated August, 1890. The Palestine firm of Burkitt and Palmer was engaged to construct the building which was funded with insurance money from the destroyed property, proceeds from a parish bazaar, donations from the parishioners, and the salary of the pastor, Father C. M. Thion.
The contributions of Nicholas Clayton, Texas' first professional architect, are primarily centered around the Galveston area, with isolated works appearing in Houston, Austin, and other cities. Works designed by Clayton already recognized by the National Register include the Ashbel Smith Building ("old Red") at the University of Texas Medical Branch, (listed 1969); the Bishop's Palace, (1970); the Ursuline Convent, (1972); the Garten Verein Dancing Pavilion, (1977); and several commercial buildings in the East End Historic District, (1975); all in Galveston. Other listed buildings include the Church of the Annunciation in Houston, (1975); and St. Edward's University, (1973). An interesting contrast may be noted between Sacred Heart Church and St. Mary's Cathedral in Austin, (listed 1973). While a similar vocabulary was employed in the Gothic detailing of these two works, textural contrast is evident as a result of construction materials. Unlike Sacred Heart, constructed with brick molded and fired on the site, St. Mary's is executed in irregularly patterned ashlar masonry, common to Austin.
Today the church is distinguished for its size as a Catholic institution in east Texas. The foresight of Clayton in designing the structure allows it to house the congregation which numbers more than one thousand. The church, along with St. Mary's Academy, a two-storied brick building constructed in 1901 that reflects the Gothic detailing of the church, forms the core of a vital Catholic complex located in the heart of overwhelmingly Protestant east Texas.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
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.