The First Church of Houston
Founded on March 16, 1839, Christ Church Cathedral was Houston’s first religious congregation. We are the only community in the city still worshiping on our original site from the days when Houston was the capital of the Republic of Texas.
A Legacy in the Heart of the City
When Houston was a “precocious” new city of theaters and grand balls, it lacked a church. Col. William Fairfax Gray changed that by gathering 28 signers—including the Republic’s Attorney General and Secretaries of State—to form a congregation.
While legend says the land was a gift, the truth is more humble: our founders bought this half-block for $400 and paid for it bit by bit. From these gritty beginnings, we have grown into a “mother church” for Texas, fostering dozens of parishes and serving as a sanctuary for all races and faiths for nearly two centuries.
Historical Milestones
- 1839: The congregation was founded in the Republic of Texas.
- 1845: The first brick church was built, facing Fannin Street.
- 1859: Construction begins on the second church. A passing cattleman is so moved he ropes a steer and gives it as a contribution—a steer’s head remains on our Diocesan Seal today.
- 1893: The present Gothic Revival building is completed. The first service is held on Christmas Eve.
- 1925: The congregation famously votes not to sell the land for $750,000, choosing to remain a spiritual anchor in downtown Houston.
- 1938: A massive fire guts the chancel. A Roman Catholic fireman saves our ornately carved rood screen by refusing to stop spraying it. The screen survives today with only minor charring.
- 1949: Christ Church is designated the Cathedral of the Diocese of Texas.
- 1995: A major restoration rededicates the Cathedral, preserving its historic beauty for the next generation.
Architecture & Artistry
The Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic Revival design, featuring:
- The Rood Screen: An intricate wood carving separating the chancel from the nave, famously saved from the 1938 fire.
- Historic Stained Glass: Including the Gray and Clemens/Lawson/Botts memorial windows.
- The Great Organ: An Aeolian-Skinner powerhouse with 77 ranks and 4,470 pipes.
- The Chapel of the Christ Child: A hidden gem designed by famed Houston architect John Staub in 1953.
A House for All People
Since our earliest days, Christ Church has been a place of radical inclusion:
Diverse Beginnings
Our first rectors conducted funerals for Catholics and weddings for Jews when those communities had no buildings of their own.
Integration
Unlike many Southern churches of the era, the first Bishop of Texas, Alexander Gregg, insisted that Black and white members worship under one roof. We honor this history through memorials like the plaque for Friday Carr, our long-serving sexton.
Ecumenical Spirit
We continue to lead in dialogue with Roman Catholic, Jewish, and Lutheran communities, believing our “Common Prayer” should lead to common service.