St. Mary's Episcopal Church

About

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin was established in Big Spring, Texas under the Rt. Rev. Alex C. Garrett as the western-most mission in the Mission District of Northern Texas (later the Diocese of Dallas). Bishop Garrett conducted the first Episcopal church service in a school building in March 1885, and, following a gift of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. C.M. Walstead, the Bishop gave his consent for the organization of the Mission of St. Mary the Virgin in November 1885.

On February 25, 1886 he laid the cornerstone for the first church building. This first building was destroyed by a tornado in July 1897. The cornerstone for a new building was laid September 5, 1899,and the completed church, which served the congregation until 1959, was consecrated in July 1900. During this time the Diocese of Dallas was divided and St. Mary’s became part of the Mission District of Northwest Texas (later the Diocese of Northwest Texas).  St. Mary’s gained parish status in 1935. By the 1950’s, growth in communicant strength necessitated building a new plant at a new location. Therefore, in 1952, there was a building campaign which led to St. Mary’s moving to its present location at Goliad and Tenth. The present, beautiful building, modeled after monasteries of the Middle Ages, was designed by Harwell Hamilton Harris, a noted Dallas architect. (See Harwell Hamilton Harris, the Design of St. Mary’s, for more information.)

A bell, which had been cast for “Ecclesia Sancta Maria, Big Springs (sic), Texas” in 1899, was moved from the belfry of the old church and installed in the Bennett Memorial Garden. The first service was held in the partially completed building on February 23, 1958. On August 7, 1966, the present Nave and Sanctuary were dedicated by Bishop Quarterman. This represented the completion of the original architectural plans and closed the fourth side of the patio area.