St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church. . At the Diocesan Convention of 1867 St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church was established, the second church group in Wharton County and the first and only Episcopal Church to permanently root in the county, worship in Wharton began with the first official sermon delivered on May 5, 1867, by Rt. Reverend Alexander Gregg. The church was recognized as a mission in 1868., The first church building was erected in 1898 on Milam Street, rebuilt in 1902. Beginning in May 1926, Raymond Dickson offered the old Dickson home for use as a rectory when the house was dismantled, the sale of the lumber was used toward funds for a new rectory. A new church building was completed in 1951 and the old building on Milam was sold. For more than forty years (1962-2003), the parish sponsored St. Thomas’ Day School (later St. Thomas’ Episcopal School), which produced many honor graduates of Wharton High School. , Occasionally, church services were conducted in Newgulf since so many members worked for the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company. In addition, the church assisted with St. Thomas' thrift shop, Angel Tree Ministry, Wharton County Women's Crisis Center, Vacation Bible School and other community outreach all of which contributed to the church's impact on the community. , Through support service and outreach, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church has impacted Wharton and the surrounding areas for well over a century.