St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

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Galveston, TX
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

StAug1884.org View the Presiding Bishop's January 16, 2011 Sermon at St. Augustine here:

http://dljstudios.com/tv-st-aug.html

Address

1410 Jack Johnson Blvd (41st Street)
Galveston, TX
77550

Opening Hours

9am - 10:30am

Website

http://paypal.me/stauggalveston

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St Augustine of Hippo Episcopal - Galveston, TX 135 years of proclaiming the Gospel on the Island

St Augustine of Hippo, Galveston TX was organized in response to 50 Black Anglican seamen from the British West Indies who wanted communion services for themselves and their families. The called upon the Rev. Charles M. Parkman, then the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Galveston. However, given the prejudices of the day for sailors of darker completions, they were “invited” to attend services on Wednesday and Friday only. In 1884, these men petitioned Bishop Alexander Gregg of the Diocese of Texas for their own parish in order to be able to worship on the sabbath.

Bishop Gregg consented to provide them a church and in the spring of 1885 appointed the Rev William F. Floyd, PhD, a black physician and clergyman from Louisville, KY to be the missionary resident priest. This was the first church for African Americans in the Diocese of Texas. Fr. Floyd organized the mission and was in the process of planning the building of a house of worship when he died suddenly in 1887. The meeting place was located on the corner of 15th Street and Ave L

In 1888 the REv. Thomas White Cain arrived in Galveston. He was a graduate of the first class of the Payne Seminary for Negroes in Petersburg, Va. Under his leadership, the congregation purchased the Scandinavian Methodist Church and property on the corner of 22nd and Broadway at a cost of $6,500 cash. Fr. Cain organized the first industrial school and was instrumental in rallying the support of the African American community to help with the outbreak of Yellow Fever that had plagued the Island. The Church was completely destroyed in the great storm of 1900 and Fr. Cain and his family also perished in the storm. In memory of Fr. Cain, Fr. Stephen Byrd, then Rector of Trinity Church Galveston, donated their altar to St. Augustine.

The Rev. W.H. Marshall succeeded Fr. Cain after the storm of 1900. Services were held in Eaton Chapel at Trinity Church. He was in charge of orchestrating the reconstruction and a new building was erected in 1902. The first service was held Easter Day 1902. The congregation worshipped under various ministers at 22nd and Broadway. The 1902 structure is the current church building.

The Rev. William H. Bright-Davies came to St Aug in 1930. He was a dynamic force and grew the congregation, making it a center for the Black community in Galveston. Fr. Bright-Davies recognized the growing ministry to youth and wanted more room to accommodate his vision for an educational building. He also wanted St Augustine to resemble the other two Episcopal Churches on the Island with a Parish Hall and lawn. As that was not possible at the original location, in 1940, the congregation sold the property and bought two and 1/2 lots at the corner of 41st and Ave M 1/2. The church structure was cut in two and was moved to its current location using logs and mules.

Fr. Bright-Davies was the longest serving clergyman at St Augustine, having served for 18 years. During his leadership, the church had it largest number of communicants at 199 active in the 1944 parochial report. St Augustine was known for its special pageants, style shows, and youth dances. It had an order of the Daughters of the King, Garden Club, a Young Ladies Club, and a Women’s Auxiliary. Under Fr. Davies, the first Young People’s Summer Conference was held in 1943. Camp Allen was not available to Black congregants of the diocesan family at that time. It was held in the church building and vicarage. People from Houston, Tyler, and San Antonio attended the conference. Fr. Davies was also instrumental in the building and supervision of St Luke’s Church in Houston. Due in part to his vision, St Augustine became a central part of the community and a meeting place for conversation about civil rights and equality for people of color, not only in the diocese, but in the state.

Later, under the leadership of Rev Fred Sutton, a summer outreach ministry for boys living on the “north” side of Broadway was started at St Augustine in 1954. This outreach ministry grew exponentially to incorporate boys and girls; providing safe haven from the streets, breakfast and afternoon snacks, recreational activities, and a place to do homework. It was consecrated as St Vincent’s Episcopal House by Bishop Sterling in the late 1960’s as an official outreach ministry of the Diocese of Texas for people of color in Galveston. It continues today serving those in need of food, medical services, emergency assistance, and many other services.

Today, the legacy of these many pioneering Episcopalians continues with a church family that comes from different ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, but all whom are knit together by the Holy Spirit.