National Register Listing

St. Mary's Church of the Assumption

FM 1295, Praha, TX

St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in Praha is important because of its exterior construction in the Gothic Revival style, and because of its unusual and skillful interior painting. Established in 1855 by Czech settlers, St. Mary's was the first Roman Catholic church between San Antonio and Houston. Since then it has played a major role in the social and cultural life of the community. Every August 15, a celebration is held of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called Prazka Pout ("homecoming"). St. Mary's is the only Roman Catholic church in the country said to have such a custom. The present structure, with its rusticated stone and stuccoed walls, is the fourth structure built at this site and was designed by architect 0. Kramer and completed in 1895. The first three churches were framed, were built in 1865, 1866, and 1876, and are no longer extant. The beautiful interior of the present structure was painted soon after the building was completed, and retains its original appearance and integrity. The skillful use of freehand trompe l'oeil techniques with plant and architectural forms is rare, and a pleasing sense of lightness is achieved. The artist who did the ceiling work was Gottfried Flury, a native of Solothurn, Switzerland. He immigrated to the United States in 1881, at the age of 17, and painted scenery in New York theaters before moving to San Antonio in 1891. In Texas, he became known as a painter of church murals and frescoes. St. Mary's is one of the very few structures still standing that displays his work.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.