FIRST - Protestant Sermon in San Antonio, San Antonio TX
N 29° 25.643 W 098° 29.389
14R E 549486 N 3255445
The first protestant sermon in San Antonio was preached by Rev. DeVilbiss, who founded the Travis Park United Methodist Church
Waymark Code: WMXNE1
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2018
Views: 1
This historical marker for the Travis Park United Methodist Church preserves the memory of the first Protestant sermon preached in San Antonio. The church is located at the corner of Navarro St. and E. Travis St. in San Antonio, and reads as follows:
"Travis Park United Methodist Church
Founded by the Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss (1818-83), missionary to Republic of Texas, who in 1844 preached first protestant sermon ever heard in San Antonio and in June 1846 organized his congregation in the courthouse. Villagers called him"the little priest that owns the bell, "as he rang calls to worship from vacant lot bought for church on Commerce Street and afterward preached there. The earliest methodist building was a chapel erected in 1852 on Soledad Street and named for Bishop Paine. Cultural life of the city was enriched in 1859 when San Antonio female college, later the University of San Antonio, opened in Paine Chapel. This institution was to merge with others nearly a century later to form trinity University (1942). The Travis Park edifice was begun in pastorate of Dr. W.J. Young (1882) with S.C. Bennett, Francis Crider, G. H. Johnston, James T. Thornton, W.L. Thompson, and William Votaw on building committee. Additions (1901,1910,1922,1941) modified the Romanesque Revival architecture. A 1955 fire prompted major remodeling. Memorial windows depict the congregation's history. Pastors have included many noted men, five having been elected bishops."
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1844
More Information - Web URL: Not listed
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