The History of Central Presbyterian Church
Located on the northeast corner of Brazos and Bois d'Arc (now 8th Street), Central Presbyterian Church traces its roots to the organization of the first Presbyterian church in Austin on Sunday, October 13, 1839. That event, conducted by Rev. William Youell Allen, took place in Bullock's Hotel, at the corner of Congress Avenue and Pecan Street (later renamed Sixth Street).
The names of only four organizers are known. They were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bullock, James Burke, and Abner H. Cook, recognized as "the builder of Austin." The City of Austin was chartered two and a half months later, December 27, 1839. Cook was one of two contractors who helped construct a small frame sanctuary for that first Presbyterian church in 1841.
Fear of marauding Indians and the recurrent threat of Mexican troops prompted many of Austin's small population--about 1,500--to flee to Washington on the Brazos in 1842. In 1844 a tornado blew the little church building apart, and Presbyterian worship lapsed.
On May 26, 1850 the First Presbyterian Church of Austin was organized, with five members. Cook was one of them. The next year, on land given by Cook, a frame church was completed on the northeast corner of Lavaca and Bois d'Arc, with Cook the contractor.
Rev. William M. Baker, ordained following graduation from Princeton, became the pastor. He gained popularity throughout the community until the Civil War erupted. Strife arising from differences over the slavery issue led to bitter division within First Presbyterian Church. Baker was vigorously pro-Union.
When the war ended in May 1865, discord arising from that conflict continued in many aspects of southern life. On January 27, 1866, a pro-northern majority in the church supported a resolution disclaiming all connection with the Presbytery of Central Texas. A minority of 11 (some have said 13) left First Presbyterian and maintained allegiance to the presbytery and the Southern Assembly.
Whatever one's view of that sad division within the church, all can rejoice that bitterness faded with the passage of time. Reconciliation was climaxed with national reunification of the Northern and Southern branches into the PC(USA), with a single General Assembly, in 1983.
Cook and James H. Hutchins, who were among the small group which left First Presbyterian to form Austin Presbyterian (South), became the first elders of our church. A contract for the property which became the present site, was signed May 14, 1871. Recognized by the Texas Historical Commission in 1989 as a historical site, the property has anchored the Presbyterian presence in downtown Austin for 127 years.
First identified as Presbyterian Church (South), the congregation has been known subsequently as Austin Presbyterian Church, Southern Presbyterian Church, Free Presbyterian Church (i.e. its pews were not for sale to families), First Southern Presbyterian Church and Central Presbyterian Church.
Throughout its history, our church has contributed to the leadership of the City of Austin, the State of Texas and the United States. From a historical viewpoint, the member whose name figures most prominently in the development of Austin is Abner H. Cook. He designed, constructed and owned buildings on Austin's two main thoroughfares, Congress Avenue and Pecan Street. He is best known as the architect and builder of the Governor's Mansion and the Governor Pease Mansion (now Shivers-House-Woodlawn).
Among others associated with Central who have played significant roles in society is one who attained international renown in the world of literature. William Sidney Porter, the acclaimed O. Henry of American short story, sang bass in the choir of First Southern in the mid-1880s (learn more at the O. Henry museum in downtown Austin). Porter and his 17-year-old bride, Athol Estes, were married by their minister, Dr. Richmond Kelley Smoot, in the Smoot residence at 1316 West Sixth Street on July 1, 1887.
Other prominent persons identified with the life of Central have included Governor Francis R. Lubbock, Thomas Watt Gregory, John B. Winn, Thomas B. Greenwood, A. N. McCallum and his wife, Jane Y. McCallum, Dr. Paul W. McFadden, Jesse James and Dr. J. W. Edgar.
- Lubbock was the chief executive of the State of Texas from 1861 to 1863.
- Gregory, regarded as the most famous political figure ever connected with Central, served as Attorney General in the Cabinet of President Woodrow Wilson.
- Winn was the first Superintendent of the Austin Public Schools.
- Greenwood was a member of the Texas Supreme Court.
- McCallum was a longtime Superintendent of the Austin Public Schools. His wife, Jane, was a leader of the women's suffrage movement in Texas and gained the unusual distinction of serving as Texas Secretary of State from 1927 to 1933.
- Dr. McFadden was Mayor of Austin from 1926 to 1933.
- James held the elective office of State Treasurer longer than any other person in Texas history, 1941 to 1977.
- The long-standing identification of Presbyterians as leaders in the field of education in the United States and in Texas was reflected in the State Board of Education's selection of Edgar in 1950 as the first appointed Commissioner of Education for Texas' public school system.
The most renowned pastor in Central's history has been Reverend Richmond K. Smoot. His 29-year ministry, 1876 until his death in 1905, carried the church to great heights of service, inspiring young men to enter the ministry and stimulating the founding of Texas' first Presbyterian school of theology, which became the present Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His leadership in theological education stands as his greatest accomplishment.
The story of the church baptismal font is a moving one. A young doctor and elder of the church, William J. Burt, and his wife were saddened at her inability to have children. Hoping to comfort her and to assure her of his love, Burt began to save a portion of the money he earned from his charge of 50 cents per call to visit patients so as to provide a home that would be no less magnificent than the Governor's Mansion. But, as he was approaching his goal it was announced in despair that the church was in a bind to meet its debt. After discussion, the doctor and his wife made their decision. They gave the doctor's savings to help wipe out the church debt.
A man who owned a burial monument business not far from the church was so impressed by the Burts' sacrifice of their life dream that he donated the marble baptismal font anonymously. The dedication language inscribed on the font says only "Given by a friend."
While continuing to serve the heart of Austin at its downtown location, Central has played a supportive role in the organization of eight other Presbyterian churches in Austin: Highland Presbyterian, East Austin Presbyterian, University Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian, Wilshire Presbyterian (now Genesis Presbyterian), Wager Memorial Presbyterian, Faith Presbyterian and Covenant Presbyterian.
One of the major historic events in the life of the church occurred February 25, 1965, largely through the leadership of an elder, Harold Kilpatrick. It was in First Southern's chancel that 39 state denominational leaders signed the document bringing into being the Texas Conference of Churches--the first conference in the world embracing all Roman Catholics with Protestant and Orthodox communions. Kilpatrick remained active in the life of the church even after his 100th birthday.
Many of Central's members have rendered service to their community. One of the most outstanding is Rose Lancaster, who in 1971 became one of the first two women to be elected as elders in First Southern. Over the past 37 years Rose has served in many ways. She was on the organizing committee for the Samaritan Counseling Center and became its president. She has served as moderator of Presbytery del Salvador and Mission Presbytery. She served on Synod's General Council and work groups and has been president of the United Campus Ministries of Austin.
Major recognition for Rose's service came in 1983 when she was chosen as church Person of the Year by the Austin Conference of Churches. Professionally, she led in the organization of Extend-a-Care, an after-school program for the children of working parents.
Elder Lin Team gained statewide respect for her years of work as director of Texas Impact, an inter-faith advocacy group in behalf of human services with the Texas legislature.
The mission of Central continues to have both a global and local focus. The Women of the Church has been particularly supportive of foreign missions. Its first recorded support of a specifically named missionary came June 12, 1921, when the Session appointed Miss Mary W. McCown as a foreign missionary in China. Ten others have been missionaries to China, Africa (Malawi), Korea and Brazil.
One of the most recent expressions of local outreach is participation in the Manos de Cristo (Hands of Christ) program. Initiated by El Buen Pastor, a Presbyterian Church in East Austin, Manos de Cristo offers a dental clinic, food pantry and clothes closet, as well as services to reduce illiteracy, improve health care, expand child care and encourage employment opportunities. Central was among the first of around 20 Central Texas Presbyterian churches that support this program.
Thus, Central's roots have gone deep over the years. The harvest, abundant for many decades, continues to flourish through our service, in response to God's will, as we continue "Making a Difference in the Heart of Austin."
Text of Historical Marker
Placed at Central Presbyterian Church,
Austin, Texas in 1988 by the Texas Historical Commission
Central Presbyterian Church This congregation traces its roots to October 13, 1839, when Austin's first Presbyterian worship service was held at Bullock's hotel. Present that day was builder Abner Cook, elder in the first Presbyterian church organized in Austin. He helped acquire this property for the Presbyterian Church (South) following a post-Civil War split in the church. A sanctuary was completed on the site in 1874.
This congregation was known in later years as Southern Presbyterian Church, the Free Presbyterian Church, First Southern Presbyterian Church, and Central Presbyterian Church. It has counted among its members many individuals important in the life of the denomination and the city of Austin, including Gov. Francis R. Lubbock; William Sidney Porter (O. Henry); A. N. and Jane Y. McCallum; Dr. George Clark and Rebecca Kilgore Stuart Red; and U. S. Attorney General Thomas Watt Gregory. The Rev. Richmond Kelley Smoot played an important role in the national denomination and in the development of the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
This congregation was instrumental in organizing five Presbyterian churches in Austin. It continues a program of ministry, outreach, and cultural events.