Sublime in Lavaca County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Zion Lutheran Church

Photographed by James Hulse, January 4, 2023

1. Zion Lutheran Church Marker

Inscription. Christoph Geiger, a Lutheran pastor from Germany who had arrived in the U.S. in 1860, was sent as a traveling missionary to this area in 1867. The original congregation of this church was organized on April 12, 1868, in a nearby village known as Strunkville. The first church building, called Bethlehem, was dedicated in 1870 on the present site of Geiger Cemetery (3 Mi. N).

The need for more space prompted the erection of a new church in 1887, and it was dedicated as Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, about that time the village of Sublime was established, causing a shift in population. By 1904, the congregation decided to move their church into the new town. Under the direction of pastor Karl Roth, the building was taken apart and each piece of lumber carefully numbered for reassembly on this site. Construction was completed in 1905, and Roth is credited with the design and carving of the altar and pulpit which are still in use. The exterior walls are cypress, and the interior is pine.

Zion Lutheran Church has served as a center of religious and social activities of the community for over a century. Its original congregation primarily consisted of German immigrants, and services were held in the German language until the late 1930s. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986

Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15439.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is April 12, 1868.

Location. 29° 28.866′ N, 96° 47.726′ W. Marker is in Sublime, Texas, in Lavaca County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and 3rd Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. The marker is located in front of the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 529 County

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Road 146, Hallettsville TX 77964, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sublime Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Geiger Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away); Rabb Switch (approx. 2.7 miles away); Marshall and Malinda Mitchell (approx. 4.2 miles away); City Cemetery (approx. 8.1 miles away); Hackberry (approx. 8.2 miles away); Oakland Normal School (approx. 8.6 miles away); Oakland (approx. 8.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sublime.

The Zion Lutheran Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 4, 2023

2. The Zion Lutheran Church and Marker

The view of the Zion Lutheran Church from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 4, 2023

3. The view of the Zion Lutheran Church from the street

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.