St. James Episcopal Church
Monroe and Colorado Sts., La Grange, TXThe congregation of Saint James Episcopal Church in La Grange is the only organized group of the denomination in Fayette County and has enjoyed a colorful history since its founding in 1855. The present building in which the congregation worships was designed in 1885 by Richard M. Upjohn, the son of one of the most prominent architects of the 19th century. Significant not only for the role the parish has played in the social and cultural history of the county, but the church also represents an outstanding architectural example of the Stick Style.
The congregation of Trinity Parish was formed on August 18, 1855, with the Reverend Hanibal Pratt as minister. Reverend Pratt was engaged to preach once each month in the community and continued this practice until his death on December 11, 1857. During 1858 the spirit of the church was kept alive by a Sunday School which met either in private homes or the courthouse. The year 1860 was marked by the visit of Bishop Alexander Gregg to the parish and the confirmation of four new members. It was during this period that the name was changed to Saint James Parish.
The congregation grew in membership during the years 1860 to 1876 and included as its parishioners some of the most notable citizens of the community. Services were led once each month by an ordained deacon from Columbus, thirty miles to the east. In late 1876 the parish had grown to the extent that a rector was summoned for two Sundays each month and the first permanent home was purchased. An old school building was adapted by the congregation under the leadership of Reverend N. G. W. Smith. A native of New York, Reverend Smith had moved to Texas to establish a mission there. By 1885 the congregation had outgrown the schoolhouse and established a fund to build a new church. Reverend Smith used his social connections in New York to solicit funds and the aid of Richard M. Upjohn, the son of the renowned ecclesiastical architect of the mid-19th century, Richard Upjohn, Sr.
The cornerstone of the present building was laid on February 5, 1885, with many officials of the Protestant Episcopal Church in at- tendance. Reverend Smith employed his carpentry skills to construct the altar, Bishop's chair, lectern, and communion rail in the church, all of which are intact today. Other features of the building which are attributed to Reverend Smith's decision are the design of the windows and the crucifix on the belfry. The construction of the building was conducted by Mr. C. Michaelis, a local carpenter who also constructed the original pews. The church exists today as one of the finest examples of the Stick Style. to be found in Texas. The original colors of dark red, ivory, and brown have graced its walls since Consecration Sunday on February 28, 1886. The only changes to the facility, a new hardwood floor and asbestos shingle roof, were installed in 1964.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
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.