Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest
James S. Currie, Executive Secretary
What a rich tapestry there is of international congregations in the Synod of the Sun! From Native Americans (most are in Oklahoma with one in Texas) to Hungarian (in Albany, Louisiana) to African and African-American to Hispanic to Asian (a Chinese congregation in Kenner, Louisiana and numerous Korean congregations throughout the Synod).
In this column the focus will be on a nationality that is part of the Reformed tradition – the Czech Reformed or Czech-Moravian Church or Unity of the Brethren Church.
Many people think the Reformation began with Martin Luther and John Calvin. If you ask a member of the Czech-Moravian tradition, you might hear a different story, namely, that Luther and Calvin were part of the 2nd Reformation, the first being 100 years earlier under the leadership of Catholic priest Jan Hus (1369-1415). Among other things, Hus was interested in making the Bible available in the language of the people instead of only in Latin which only Catholic clergy could read. He also called for the Church to surrender much of its secular power and possessions. So enraged were Catholic authorities by Hus’ reforms and their popularity that he was called upon to defend his views at the Council of Constance. Hus was convicted of heresy and burned at the stake.
His followers, known as Hussites became a state church. In Bohemia they founded the first Protestant Cathedral (St. Vitus), the first Protestant university (Charles University), and they had the first Protestant king (King George of Podebrady who ruled from 1458-1471). In 1457 a second Reformation church was established in Bohemia, the Unity of the Brethren.
In the early 1700s the Moravian Brethren came to America and settled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where there is still a Moravian seminary. In the mid-1800s there was a second wave of immigrants that came to Texas. While many joined the Presbyterian Church, others formed the Czech-Moravian Church. In 1959 the name Unity of the Brethren was adopted. Settlements were roughly in the area from West, Texas (have you ever stopped there for their kolaches?) to Temple to Austin to Houston and various place in between these towns and cities.
The first Unity of the Brethren congregation that was established in Texas was in Wesley, Texas (Austin County), about eight miles south of Brenham. It was formed in 1866. It is still an ongoing congregation. The Czech-Moravian church in Ross Prairie in Fayette County was organized in 1870 and the church in Nelsonvillel (Austin County) was organized in 1893. Other Moravian congregations established in the early 20th century were in Caldwell (where there is still a Moravian bookstore), Snook, Navy Tabor, Dime Box, and Cooks Point.
On April 20, 1924 St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Needville was organized by the Southwest Czech (Bohemian) Presbytery, Synod of Texas of the Presbyterian Church in the USA. The Rev. J. R. Bit was the organizing pastor and served there until 1953. In July 1949 the Southwest Czech Presbytery was dissolved and St. Paul’s became a member of Houston Presbytery. Other pastors who have served the congregation are: Rev. Allen Brown, Rev. John P. Dany, Rev. Richard D. Avery, and Rev. Dan Walker. That congregation is now part of New Covenant Presbytery of the PC(USA).
The 2008 PC(USA) General Assembly approved a covenant relationship with the Moravians. The presbyteries ratified that relationship the following year. The motto of the Unity of the Brethren Church is “In Essentials, Unity. In Non-Essentials, Liberty. In All Things, Love.”
The Presbyterian Historical Society of the Southwest exists to “stimulate and encourage interest in the collection, preservation, and presentation of the Presbyterian and Reformed heritage” in the Southwest. If you are not a participating member of the Society and would like to become one, the annual dues are $20 per individual and $25 per couple. Annual institutional and church membership dues are $100. Checks may be made out to PHSSW and sent to:
PHSSW – 5525 Traviston Ct., Austin, TX 78738.
Comments