October 11, 2003 01:27 AM
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October 11, 2003 01:27 AM
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Reprint from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 1961 Yearbook - THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN TEXAS - By Rev. Martin LeBrecht When Texas was yet an independent Republic, the first service of Holy Communion celebrated by an Episcopal priest in Texas was Christmas Day, 1838, in Matagorda. The Rey, Caleb S. lves had come from Mobile, Alabama, and found six communicants in Texas. In January 1839, they organized the first Episcopal parish in Texas. By April 1, 1939, Christ Church, Houston, became the second Texas parish. The third parish was Trinity, Galveston, organized in 1840. Texas was a foreign mission in those days, and received visits from Bishop Polk of Louisiana, and Bishop Freeman of Arkansas. The Diocese of Texas was organized in 1849, continuing under the care of Bishop Freeman. In 1859 Alexander Gregg became the first bishop of Texas. The second bishop if Texas was the Rt. Rev. George Herbert Kinsolving, consecrated in 1892, who at the death of Bishop Gregg in 1893, became diocesan. Bishop Kinsolving died in 1928, and was succeeded by Bishop Clinton S. Quin. Beginning in 1874, The Diocese of Texas set apart missionary districts, till today there are in the state of Texas, the following dioceses: Texas, Dallas, West Texas, Northwest Texas, and a portion in the Diocese of New Mexico and Southwest Texas. The bishops of the Diocese of Texas today (1961) are: Diocesan: The Rt. Rev. John F. Hines Suffragan: The Rt. Rev. F. Percy Goddard The Rev. Martin LeBrecht served St. Luke ‘S from July 1959 to October 1963. On Dec. 20, 1959 her was ordained as a Deacon and on Dec. I 7, 1960 ordained as a Priest. During his service to St. Luke’s he also provided services to Episcopal Churches in Cleveland and Woodville. He listed four phone numbers including one in Austin, where he spent time researching Diocese Archives for church history in Texas and Polk County. Father LeBrecht published the 1961 Yearbook and filled it with his history articles, current communicant listings, and an extensive bibliography for further readings on church history. In his preface to this Yearbook he stated, “Holy History is a vital part of our Faith; we have faith that the Holy Spirit directs the Church every year, 325,1066, 1215 and so forth, not only this year, as if religion were invented two years ago..." His Early English- speaking Christianity article (Celtic) will be reprinted for those who ask why our 50th Anniversary “Golden Jubilee” is hosting a Celtic Lamb of God Mass. St. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH SEMINARIANS, DEACONS, VICARS & PRIEST
Norman Kenneth
Yates June 15, 1953 to Dec. 31. 1955 |
