Our History
ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BRYAN, TEXAS
Written by Nancy Hawtrey
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church was established in 1867 by Leonidas Polk, the first Missionary Bishop of the Southwest. Bishop Polk first visited Texas in 1838 and, believing that a bishop was immediately needed in Texas, wrote in urgent letters “the safety of the Church and the purity of religion demand the immediate presence of authorized organization. There is work for it to perform if it were here now.” But, it was not until 1850 that an Episcopal diocese was established in Texas. In 1859, Alexander Gregg, a South Carolinian, was elected the first Bishop of Texas, where he ministered to 27 Texas communities, one of which was Millican, Texas. Here on a spring night in 1864 the Bishop came and in the school house, for the first time in that community, he held Episcopal services. The only Episcopal family in Millican was that of George D. Haswell. Even so, the report of the attendance at the services was that it was good, “notices having been generally distributed and much curiosity aroused.”
The Bishop visited Millican again in 1865. While there, he baptized Lizzie Haswell and confirmed Mollie Haswell and Laura La Pert [Bryan Weekly Eagle, April 17, 1930]. In August, 1866, the Mission of St. Andrew was organized at Millican. There was no clergyman, but by license from the Bishop law readings were begun and continued with regularity. Soon a small melodeon was purchased and a choir formed. After two concerts by the choir, an organ was purchased for $260. By 1867, the railroad had moved the community on to Bryan. On December 10th, 1867, seventeen men met to organize a parish. Those present were George D. Haswell, Emmett Mix, Frank Clarke, Thomas B. Wright, O. P. Yates, George Johnston, J. D. DuBose, J. M. Rainwater, George W. May, Amos DuBose, M. T. Glynn, B. Adoue, James Lobit, George L. Griscom, George T. Haswell, Joseph S. Young and J. W. Beard.
On the 10th of November, 1867, The Rev. A. J. Yeater, conducted the first Episcopal services ever held in this energetic young city, and remained two months to help get things established. [The Episcopal Church in Texas, p. 225]. Soon after, the vestry called the Rev. Robert Jope as their first rector at a salary of $1,000 coin per annum to be paid quarterly, and, at the same time, recommended the organization of a society of the ladies of the church for the purpose of furthering its interests. During his short stay, the first church was built on Lots 4-7, Block 140, City of Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, at the corner of the streets now known as William J. Bryan Parkway (formerly 25th Street) and Parker. Later, in 1880, for $750, the Church acquired Lots 8-9. The first church was built of rough, whitewashed boards and seated 300 persons. On March 22, 1868, Bishop Gregg consecrated the church. However, Bishop Quintard of Tennessee, on a visit, later said of the clapboard that “a barn is better.”
The early years were hard. From 1868 to 1878 there were eight rectors; in some months, none at all. During this time the church was kept alive by the layreaders.
In 1870, the vestry sought to buy what it considered to be a necessity. The purchased a bell cast by Meneely Co. of Troy, NY. Because there was no tower, a wooden tower was built to hold it. This bell is still used by the present-day church. [The bell, identical to the one in the court house, is 40" high, 36" wide at the bottom of the bowl and 2 1/3" thick at the rim and has a clapper 28" long and 15" in circumference. The twin bells were sent from Troy, NY at the same time.] In 1875, the Bishop consecrated a new Gothic-style brick building, located on the same site. In the churchyard was a cemetery. When this location was sold, the graves were moved to the Bryan City Cemetery.
The present church was built on a site carefully chosen because it had the highest rise in the city, at West 26th St (formerly Anderson St) and Parker Avenue (formerly Red Top Street). The land was conveyed to the church by three deeds found of record in the Brazos County Clerk’s Office. The church was paid for at the time it was built by the congregation with no mortgages. The first subscription list amounted to $18,225, which almost paid for the building.
The Rev. William Wesley Daup was rector during the time of planning and building. The builders were two brothers, George and Charles E. Jenkins, who were also the builders of the old First Methodist Church and of many of the fine homes in Bryan still lived in today. Before St. Andrew’s was finished George Jenkins died, leaving the building to his brother to complete. [The Jenkins builders were the great uncles of current member Dr. Bill Roman and his sister, Alice Sue Hunter, now Deceased.] The church was begun on May 30, 1912, with the first services held there on April 5, 1914, Palm Sunday, with a new rector, the Rev. Randolph Ray. It was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. George Kinsolving, Bishop of Texas, on May 3, 1914. Distinctive features are its memorial stained glass windows and its interior woodwork, still beautiful today.
[The processional cross, which is an elegant affair, was used as the altar cross in the old church, and is regarded as the connecting link between the new and the old. It was presented to the old church by Mrs. Hattie White, according to The Rev. Randolph Ray, Bryan Daily Eagle and Pilot, April 11, 1914].
The Rev. Hugh B. McJamison served from January 1, 1918 until September 15, 1921, followed by S. Moylan Bird, from August 1, 1921 to November 1, 1926. Thereafter, Leslie A. Wilson served from March 10, 1932 to August, 1941, The Rev. James S. Butler served from May 15, 1942 until April 1, 1948.
On Dec 29, 1925, the Parker Memorial Organ was dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Della Lawrence Parker. Some of the pipes initially installed are still used in the church, the console being replaced and major work on the organ being done in the 1970′s.
Early records of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church have been transcribed by Nancy Hawtrey and are being reproduced in this publication. Click here to access this material.
This article is written as excerpts from a booklet published by St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in 1992 in celebration of its 125th anniversary.
