Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church
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QuesterMark
N 30° 43.093 W 097° 26.811
14R E 648716 N 3399403
This subject marker is mounted on a post that stands in front of the church at the northeast corner of W Davilla and Brazos Streets.
Waymark Code: WMMCQJ
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/01/2014
Views: 11
Marker erected by the Texas Historical Commission.
Texas Historical Commission Atlas data:
Index Entry: Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church
Address: Corner of N. Brazos and W. Davilla St.
City: Granger
County: Williamson
Subject Codes: churches; Czech immigrants/immigration; Roman Catholic denomination
Year Marker Erected: 1993
Marker Location: Corner of N. Brazos and W. Davilla St., Granger
Marker Size: 27" x 42"
Marker Number: 9333
Marker Text:
The Czechs/Moravians who settled here in the early 1880s initially worshiped in each others' homes or traveled 12 miles to Taylor, site of the nearest Catholic church. As their informal congregation grew so did the community of Granger. In 1891 they erected a wood frame sanctuary here on land donated by Austinite W. H. Walton, and named their church after the Czech patron saints, Cyril and Methodius.
During the Rev. Frantisek Machan's brief tenure as pastor the church formed several fraternal organizations and established a school. His successor, the Rev. Frantisek Pridal, helped the congregation build a new school building/parish hall in 1912 and replace the original church building with a brick structure in 1916. Following the death of the beloved Father Pridal in 1927, the Rev. John Vanicek became pastor. He helped many young parishioners enter the priesthood and sisterhood, and guided several parishioners into leadership roles in statewide Catholic fraternal organizations.
In 1948 this church became a part of the newly-formed Austin Diocese. A 2-story brick school building was added in 1947, a recreation center in 1959, and a brick convent in 1960. The church continues to play an integral role in church and community affairs. (1993)
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