Danevang Lutheran Church - Danevang, TX - Signs of History on Waymarking.com

Danevang Lutheran Church

"A Community Church For Those Near And Far"

The church building before you was erected at Camp Hulen at Palacios, Texas at the beginning of the 1940s when the nation was preparing for war. As part of a huge construction effort, which transformed a tent camp into an anti-aircraft artillery training base, this church was one of four - in fact the main Chapel - which served all Creeds and religions and this was ecumenical in every sense.

The end of World War II heralded the termination of Camp Hulen as a training base since Fort Bliss, Texas took over as the anti-aircraft artillery center. Along with many other buildings, the church became surplus to the needs of the army and was offered for sale. This same situation developed in many other bases across the United States.

Coincidentally, the Ansgar Evangelical Lutheran Church, which was consecrated adjacent to this site in 1909, was totally destroyed by a hurricane on August 17, 1945 -- interestingly the same year that saw the termination of World War II.

One can only conjecture the timing of these two separate but allied incidents. This Chapel needed a home and the Danevang Community needed a church. The upshot of it all was a decision to purchase this church and move it to its present site before you. It was dedicated on December 14th, 1947. The movement of the church to this site was not accomplished overnight. It was disassembled in part and moved the 25 miles north to get to Divine where it was reassembled on its present site. The bell, which hung in the original church and which rang at Sunrise and Sundown daily, survived the hurricane and lives on in the steeple above you. Other artifacts, such as the painting of Saint Ansgar baptizing a child and the alter table which were salvaged from the wreckage, reside inside the church today.

The church has become a full-fledged member of the Danevang community and continues to provide the glue which has held the community together since 1894.

Welcome to this House of Prayer

Group that erected the marker: Danish Heritage Museum of Danevang URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link] Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary: County Road 426 Danevang, TX USA 77432

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