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St. Johns Episcopal Church, Sealy

1885-2010

The Episcopal Church in Sealy, Texas, was first established in 1885, shortly after the

town of Sealy was founded. The church was one of three churches established during those

very early years. George Sealy, a prominent Episcopalian, and railroad executive approached the

town of San Felipe about allowing the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railway go through town.

Afraid that the noise would upset their cattle, they sold 11,635 acres for fifty cents an acre from

the western part township with the understanding that Mr. George Sealy would use his best

efforts and influence in securing the establishment of a depot on the tract of land. With that the

town of Sealy was born.

George Sealy, on behalf of the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe Railway Company, sold a

plot of land on June 17, 1880, to Episcopal Bishop Gregg for the sum of One Dollar with the

specific intention of building an Episcopal Church. The original plot of land for the Chapel of

the Protestant Episcopal Church was 30 x 150 lot on Meyer between 1st and 2nd Streets. St.

John the Evangelist Episcopal Church as it was called at that time was built for $1,500 and had a

seating capacity of 100 people. The congregation was made up of railroad families and that

Bishop Alexander Gregg described the church as very comely and a joy to the faithful. The

Rev. S. Moylan Bird, Sr. of Trinity Church in Galveston was the first minister to come to Sealy,

leaving a lay reader in charge between visits.

By 1899, the Santa Fe Division made the decision to move the main switching and

maintenance hub, or roundhouse to Bellville. Many of the railroad workers took their families

and moved to Bellville. That same year, there were tremendous floods and the Brazos River

overflowed. The rector from St. Peters Brenham (Rev. James Noble), reported that the

building had fallen into such disrepair that it was no longer possible to hold services there. The

Bishop visited the Mission in Holy Week, and even then we were forced to go to the Methodist

place of worship, very generously offered for our use.

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By September 1900, the little wooden church was not able to withstand the winds of the

Great Galveston Hurricane as it ripped its way north. Mrs. R. H. Bostick, a founding member at

St. Johns, was able to save only two items from the church ruins, the church bell and the Bible.

She kept them safely at her home until a new church could be built.

It was Reverend S. Moylan Bird, Jr., son of the original Reverend Bird from Galveston,

was instrumental in getting St. Johns back on its feet. An article in the Sealy News from 1909

describes him as an earnest worker and his learned and eloquent sermons have, greatly

impressed his hearers, while his apt congeniality and his high regard and interest in humanity

has, during his short stay, endeared him to this people forever.1

Church members Mr. Lon Davis, the editor of the Sealy News, and Mr. Thomas Watson took

leadership roles in finding a new site to purchase for a church. The site of the current church was

purchased from Dr. William Schmoeller. Marcus Kinkler was the contractor to build the church.

It seats 125 and was built for $2,650. Rebecca Bostick, a founding member of the church who

had the foresight to take the bell and the Bible from the ruble of the old church returned the items

to be installed in the new church. The original church bell was put in the new belfry as a

reminder of our traditions. The Bible can be seen on display inside the church. A vicarage was

built behind the church in 1953 and a Parish Hall was added in 1959.

St. Johns Episcopal Church is the oldest church in continuous use in Sealy, Texas. There

have been many significant donations to St. Johns Episcopal Church over the years. The present

altar was donated by Mr. Herbert Smith, of Temple, Texas, a conductor on the Santa Fe

Railroad. The pews came from a church in Orange, TX. The original opaque glass windows

were replaced by stained glass windows in 1975, donated by church members. A new organ was

donated to the church in 2010 byMrs. Fredrick (Bernece) Marsh of Huntsville, Texas.

As part of the 125th anniversary celebration a Memorial Garden was created in the

courtyard. The garden incorporates a statue of St. Francis of Assisi made by Hayden Lawson as

well as a 3 tiered fountain in the center of the courtyard. New signage has been constructed with

a metal post created and donated a local welder. Banners were designed by church member Sue

Lemaster incorporating images of the St. John eagle and the shield of the Diocese of Texas from

the stained glass windows.

1 The Sealy News, June 25, 1909