West in McLennan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
West Brethren Church
Photographed By James Hulse, March 5, 2023
1. West Brethren Church Marker
Inscription.
West Brethren Church. . Czech immigrants began settling in this area of McLennan County about 1875. Early families included those of Josef Masek and John Foit. They attended St. Peter's Evangelical Church, founded and attended by German settlers, until the Rev. Henry Juren began conducting services in the Czech Moravian Brethren tradition. At his first service in 1888, the Rev. Mr. Juren baptized infant H.E. Beseda, who later became a minister himself. The Rev. Adolph Chlumsky formally organized the West Brethren Church in June 1892. He traveled from his farm in Brenham by railroad about six times a year to conduct services., A choir was active from the congregation's early days, as were the youth of the church. The Krestanske Sestry (Christian Sisters) was organized in 1893 with 26 members. In 1894, church trustees bought three acres east of town and built a church for one thousand dollars and donated labor. The building was dedicated in 1896. There were about fifty communicants by the turn of the 20th century. Among them were families named Adam, Barton, Beseda, Foit, Hegar, Janek, Kudelka and Svacek. The Mutual Aid Society of the Brethren Church organized in 1905. Mrs. Anna Urbanovsky donated a tract of land for a cemetery in 1908., The church building was severely damaged in a 1919 windstorm. It was replaced in 1920 and served until July 1956, when it was replaced by a modern brick facility with a sanctuary seating 220, a large fellowship hall and ten classrooms. A part of the community for more than a century, West Brethren Church continues to offer a variety of worship and educational programs.
Czech immigrants began settling in this area of McLennan County about 1875. Early families included those of Josef Masek and John Foit. They attended St. Peter's Evangelical Church, founded and attended by German settlers, until the Rev. Henry Juren began conducting services in the Czech Moravian Brethren tradition. At his first service in 1888, the Rev. Mr. Juren baptized infant H.E. Beseda, who later became a minister himself. The Rev. Adolph Chlumsky formally organized the West Brethren Church in June 1892. He traveled from his farm in Brenham by railroad about six times a year to conduct services.
A choir was active from the congregation's early days, as were the youth of the church. The Krestanske Sestry (Christian Sisters) was organized in 1893 with 26 members. In 1894, church trustees bought three acres east of town and built a church for one thousand dollars and donated labor. The building was dedicated in 1896. There were about fifty communicants by the turn of the 20th century. Among them were families named Adam, Barton, Beseda, Foit, Hegar, Janek, Kudelka and Svacek. The Mutual Aid Society of the Brethren Church organized in 1905. Mrs. Anna Urbanovsky donated a tract of land for a cemetery in 1908.
The church building was severely damaged in a 1919 windstorm. It was replaced in 1920 and served
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until July 1956, when it was replaced by a modern brick facility with a sanctuary seating 220, a large fellowship hall and ten classrooms. A part of the community for more than a century, West Brethren Church continues to offer a variety of worship and educational programs.
Erected 2000 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12351.)
Location. 31° 48.666′ N, 97° 5.654′ W. Marker is in West, Texas, in McLennan County. Marker is at the intersection of North Marable Street and West Shook Street, on the left when traveling north on North Marable Street. The marker is located at the corner of the intersection in front of the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 907 North Marable Street, West TX 76691, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. The view of the West Brethren Church from across the street
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on October 24, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 7, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.