Texas has a rich religious history that dates back to when it was a Spanish colony, where Roman Catholicism was the dominant faith. Today, it’s part of the “Bible Belt,” known for its strong Protestant beliefs, especially among conservative communities. But there’s more to the state’s religious scene. Texas is home to a variety of Christian denominations, each with its unique architectural styles, from Colonial and Gothic Revival to Mormon Temple architecture.
Even if you’re not particularly religious, the stunning beauty of these places of worship is undeniable. They range from historic Catholic and Protestant churches to modern temples, all offering a glimpse into Texas’s past and present. You’ll often find these churches near towering skyscrapers, creating a striking contrast between old and new. Exploring these churches can be a highlight of any cultural trip to the Lone Star State.
San Fernando Cathedral — San Antonio
Founded in 1731 by Canary Island settlers, the San Fernando Cathedral is the oldest continuously functioning religious community in Texas. Its architecture is a seamless blend of Spanish Colonial and French Gothic. San Fernando has been a unifying symbol, serving various denominations during the Spanish and Mexican eras and continuing to be a refuge for the needy.
Its restoration, a careful homage to its historical importance, has been recognized with numerous awards. This breathtaking Catholic church offers Mass in both English and Spanish, carrying the rich history and culture of San Antonio.
First Methodist Church — Houston
Organized in 1838 in the Republic’s Capitol Senate Chamber, First Methodist is Houston’s earliest Methodist congregation. The first frame church rose in 1842, replaced by a brick sanctuary in 1844. Through epidemics, hurricanes, and rapid urban growth, it has remained a steadfast refuge—its Aeolian-Skinner organ and Edward L. Reichert–designed stained-glass windows charting its journey in art and music.
Today, First Methodist’s televised services—among the longest-running parish broadcasts in the nation—continue its tradition of outreach. The current Neo-Gothic sanctuary, completed in the 1920s, still welcomes worshipers beneath its vaulted ceilings and historic pipe organ.
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church — Fredericksburg
Located in Fredericksburg, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church was founded in 1846 by German and Czech immigrants. The present Gothic-Revival sanctuary, constructed between 1906 and 1908, replaced earlier frame structures as the congregation grew. Its limestone façade, twin towers, and steeply pitched roof reflect the builders’ Old-World craftsmanship.
Though famed as one of the Hill Country’s “Painted Churches,” its spectacular interior murals and stenciling date to a major 1951 renovation by Franz Mayer & Co. These vibrant frescoes, stained-glass windows, and elaborately carved altar pieces honor the town’s European roots and the generations who shaped its spiritual life.
Saints Cyril and Methodius Church — Schulenburg
Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, established in 1912 after a late-19th-century storm destroyed the original sanctuary, is one of Texas’s premier “Painted Churches.” Its interior frescoes—depicting Slavic saints, angels, and intricate folk motifs—combine with Gothic arches and a soaring steeple to celebrate both community resilience and Old-World artistry.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the church remains an active parish and a cultural landmark. Visitors admire its barrel-vaulted ceiling, hand-painted columns, and richly hued stained glass, all preserved through ongoing conservation efforts.
Saint Mary’s Cathedral — Austin
Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Austin holds a special place in the city’s heart, evolving alongside it since the 1850s. It started as a small stone church, St. Patrick’s, reflecting the Irish Catholic community’s presence in what was then known as Waterloo.
The church, originally on the corner of 9th and Brazos Streets, was rechristened as Saint Mary in 1866. As Austin grew, so did the need for a larger, more permanent structure. In 1872, the cornerstone for the new church was laid, marking the beginning of an architectural marvel in High Victorian Gothic style, designed by the talented Nicholas J. Clayton.
The cathedral’s design and structure tell a story of its journey through time. Its interior is adorned with nature-inspired motifs and traditional Gothic elements, a blend that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of Austin itself. The church became the cathedral for the newly formed Diocese of Austin in 1948, a pivotal moment in its history.
Over the years, it underwent various modifications, including the 1950s removal of original Gothic decorations, replacing them with contemporary designs that echoed Central Texas, such as cacti and bluebonnets.
Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica — Beaumont
Saint Anthony Cathedral Basilica began as a parish church in 1903 and rose to cathedral status as Beaumont expanded. Its Gothic Revival limestone exterior, twin towers heightened in 1920, and pointed-arch portals convey both grace and solidity. Inside, marble altars, an ornate reredos, and soaring vaults reflect early 20th-century ecclesiastical taste.
Elevated to a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1979, Saint Anthony continues to serve a thriving congregation. Its music program, community outreach initiatives, and annual heritage festival honor the cathedral’s enduring role at the crossroads of faith and civic life.
Annunciation Catholic Church — Houston
Annunciation Catholic Church, established in 1869, holds the prestigious title of being the oldest Catholic parish in Houston. Its creation sprung from St. Vincent’s, the city’s first Catholic church. The need for a larger church to accommodate the growing number of Catholics was evident, leading Bishop Claude M. Dubuis and Father Joseph Querat to take the initiative. In a remarkable display of ecumenical spirit, people from various denominations joined hands to raise funds for its construction through community events like festivals and ice cream socials.
Designed by Nicholas J. Clayton in the Gothic revival style, the church mirrors the grandeur of European cathedrals. The church’s tall, slender central tower, completed in 1889, was once Houston’s tallest structure. Clayton’s redesign in the late 19th century added a clerestory level, raised the side walls, and expanded the sanctuary. These modifications included a replica fresco of Raphael’s “The Transfiguration” and a barreled and coffered ceiling in the nave, enhancing the church’s architectural elegance.
Over the years, Annunciation Catholic Church has seen numerous additions and changes, including marble altars, a large rose window, and structural enhancements. This church has been a constant in the lives of Houston’s early leaders and continues to serve its community and visitors.
Nativity of Mary, Blessed Virgin Catholic Church — High Hill
Built in 1906 for German and Czech settlers of Austin County, Nativity of Mary is one of the Hill Country’s most celebrated Painted Churches. Architect Leo M. J. Dielmann’s red-brick Gothic Revival exterior contrasts with the riot of color inside: in 1912, artists Ferdinand Stockert and Hermann Kern covered the walls and ceiling with trompe-l’oeil vaulting, saints, and floral motifs.
Known as the “Queen of the Painted Churches,” Nativity of Mary remains an active parish. Guided tours reveal the layers of paint and plaster that testify to the congregation’s devotion—and its determination to beautify a simple wooden interior beyond imagination.
St. Joseph Catholic Church — San Antonio
St. Joseph Catholic Church, built between 1868 and 1876 for San Antonio’s German Catholic community, now stands enveloped on three sides by a modern shopping mall. Architects G. Friesleben and Theodore Giraud designed its limestone façade and octagonal wooden columns in Gothic Revival fashion, and James Wahrenberger’s 1898 spire crowns the entrance.
Inside, turn-of-the-century stained glass filters colored light onto a tripartite altar and carved pews. After developers in 1944 chose to build around rather than relocate the church, St. Joseph became an urban landmark—a lesson in community perseverance and architectural integrity.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica — Galveston
St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Galveston was founded in 1847 as the first cathedral of the Diocese of Galveston, then encompassing all of Texas. Inspired by King’s College Chapel at Cambridge, its Gothic Revival nave and twin spires were laid in the 1870s under architect Theodore Giraud. Remarkably, it withstood the 1900 hurricane with only minor damage.
Pope John Paul II elevated St. Mary’s to basilica status in 1979. Today, its vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows, and carved choir stalls draw pilgrims and history buffs alike, celebrating over 175 years of continuous worship.
Mission Concepción — San Antonio
Mission Concepción in San Antonio, part of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, is a witness to Texas’ rich colonial history. Established in the 18th century, it’s one of the oldest original stone churches in America. The mission has remained nearly unchanged since its construction, retaining much of its original design and frescoes.
Mission Concepción stands as a symbol of the blending of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures. The church’s architecture, notable for its dome and beautiful stone walls, has withstood the test of time. It played a significant role in community life for both the Spanish settlers and indigenous people. Today, it’s not only an active parish but also a cherished historical site, attracting visitors who come to admire its well-preserved architecture and learn about the early days of Texas under Spanish rule.
Mission San José — San Antonio
Often called the “Queen of the Missions,” Mission San José was built between 1768 and 1775 to serve Franciscan friars and local Coahuiltecan converts. Its elaborate rose window—known as the “Rose of the Missions”—and arcaded cloister remain among the finest examples of Spanish Colonial ornamentation in North America.
Today, Mission San José is the centerpiece of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Visitors can explore the reconstructed granary, orchard groves, and museum, while the active chapel hosts weekly services that continue the site’s 250-year tradition of worship.
St. Mary of the Assumption — Praha
St. Mary of the Assumption, built in 1895, stands as a masterpiece among the Hill Country’s Painted Churches. Its unassuming white exterior gives way to an interior alive with Czech folk art—floral swags, saints’ portraits, and gilded borders—crafted by immigrant parishioners under architect P. J. Schmidt.
The active parish welcomes art and architecture enthusiasts to guided tours, where the interplay of light and color on hand-painted columns and vaulted ceilings reveals the devotion—and the vision—of its founders.
St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church — Lindsay
Erected in 1903 by German settlers of North Texas, St. Peter’s combines Romanesque arches with a soaring steeple and vaulted wood ceiling. Its native limestone walls house original stained-glass panels and a carved oak altar, all preserved through faithful restoration efforts.
Still an active congregation, St. Peter’s opens its doors daily. Visitors can attend Mass beneath its filigreed ironwork and admire the community’s century-old craftsmanship in every carved detail.
Salado United Methodist Church — Salado
Founded in 1854 and rebuilt after an 1862 fire, Salado United Methodist Church anchors one of Texas’s most picturesque historic villages. Its white clapboard siding, Gothic-arched windows, and bell tower overlook Brushy Creek—the same stream where early settlers baptized new members.
Today the church still rings its original cast-iron bell and hosts seasonal festivals, concerts, and weekly worship. Its well-tended cemetery and surrounding oak grove reflect generations of local families who have shaped Salado’s story.
Old Rock Church (First Presbyterian) — Georgetown
Constructed in 1876 from locally quarried limestone, Georgetown’s Old Rock Church features lancet windows, buttresses, and a steeply pitched roof characteristic of Carpenter Gothic. As one of Central Texas’s oldest Presbyterian sanctuaries, it has welcomed worshipers on the town square for nearly 150 years.
The active congregation preserves its historic pipe organ and original pews. Annual heritage events—pancake breakfasts and hymn sings—invite the public to celebrate the church’s architectural beauty and enduring community spirit.
First Methodist Church — Fort Worth
View this post on Instagram
Rising at the corner of Fifth and Main Streets, Fort Worth’s First Methodist Church was built in 1929–30 under architect Wiley G. Clarkson, modeled in a 13th-century French Gothic vein reminiscent of Notre Dame. Its triple-portal entryway, blind arcades of pink Texas marble, and soaring bell towers adorned with terra-cotta tracery create a cathedral-like presence in the heart of downtown.
Inside, the vaulted nave is enlivened by stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes and an Aeolian organ whose pipes stretch two stories above the chancel.
Today, First Methodist remains a vibrant urban parish. Worship services continue beneath its vaulted ceilings, while the cloistered courtyard and adjacent fellowship hall host concerts, lectures, and community meals.
Guided architecture tours introduce visitors to the church’s carved stone capitals, intricate woodwork, and the original 1874 cornerstone salvaged from the congregation’s earliest frame sanctuary.
St. Louis Catholic Church — Castroville
Founded just days after Henri Castro laid out his namesake town in 1844, St. Louis Catholic Church’s current limestone sanctuary dates to 1868–70 and embodies simple Gothic Revival charm. Local hands quarried the native stone, raising walls that frame lancet windows and a slender spire reaching 110 feet skyward. Inside, the nave is cool and unadorned, its whitewashed walls drawing the eye upward to wooden beams and a hand-painted altar backdrop.
Still the spiritual center of Castroville’s French-Alsatian community, St. Louis holds weekly Masses and annual festivals honoring the town’s heritage. Visitors can wander the adjacent Moye Retreat grounds to see the original 1846 chapel ruins, then step inside the 19th-century church for guided talks on its hand-hewn pews, period vestments, and the continuing legacy of Texas’s “Little Alsace.”
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower — San Antonio
Dedicated between 1926 and 1931 to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, San Antonio’s Little Flower Basilica is a Beaux-Arts marvel by Charles L. Monnot Jr. Its symmetrical façade, flanked by pilasters and crowned with a carved pediment, opens into a barrel-vaulted interior rich with plaster reliefs, mosaic stations of the cross, and a rose window that bathes the nave in colored light. Marble floors and terrazzo inlays guide the eye to an Italianate high altar surrounded by statues of the Little Flower’s parents.
Elevated to a minor basilica in 1998, Little Flower continues as a pilgrimage destination. Daily Mass and special liturgies draw worshipers to venerate first-class relics of St. Thérèse and her family. The basilica’s gift shop, shrine museum, and monthly organ recitals invite visitors to linger over its art, architecture, and the enduring devotion that made this modern church a Texas landmark.
St. Patrick Cathedral — Fort Worth
The cornerstone for St. Patrick’s Cathedral was laid in 1888 after Fort Worth’s original frame church proved too small; architect James J. Kane’s native limestone Gothic Revival design was dedicated in 1892, featuring twin towers, pink-marble blind arcades, and Munich-imported stained glass that illuminates the vaulted nave. The adjacent rectory and St. Ignatius Academy (both 1888) complete the historic complex listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, St. Patrick’s serves as the mother church of the Diocese of Fort Worth, hosting English and Spanish weekend Masses beneath its 130-year-old arches. Guided tours reveal carved capitals, original pews, and the 2008 restoration, while the cloistered courtyard and fellowship hall welcome concerts, lectures, and community outreach events that honor the cathedral’s legacy.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church — Serbin
Built in 1891 by German Lutheran settlers along Caney Creek, St. Paul’s Lutheran in Serbin is one of Texas’s most celebrated Painted Churches. Its modest white frame exterior gives little hint of the wonders inside: in 1911 and 1912, artists Hermann Kern and Ferdinand Stockert adorned the sanctuary with trompe-l’œil Gothic vaulting, hand-painted columns, and delicate floral stencils that seem to lift the simple woodwork into soaring stone.
The vivid blue ceiling, gold stars, and vine-scroll ornament against crisp white walls evoke an Old-World cathedral in miniature.
Today, St. Paul’s remains an active congregation of the Texas‐Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. Visitors are welcome to attend Sunday services in both English and German, or to join seasonal guided tours that highlight the church’s fragile murals.
A small museum on the grounds interprets the congregation’s 19th-century immigrant history, while annual heritage events—like the Spring Fest—celebrate the artistry and faith that have sustained Serbin’s community for over 130 years.
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church — Ammannsville
Founded in 1879 by German Catholic families west of Columbus, Saint John the Baptist is another fine example of the Hill Country’s Painted Churches. The present brick sanctuary, completed in 1914, boasts interior murals by Prague-trained painter Gottfried Flury.
His hand-applied frescoes depict saints, liturgical symbols, and richly hued garlands across the barrel-vaulted ceiling, creating the illusion of carved stone and sculpted relief where there is only plaster.
Still serving its rural parishioners, Saint John’s holds regular Mass each weekend and opens its doors for “Painted Church Tours” April through October. Conservation efforts in the 1990s restored Flury’s original palette, and today the church stands not only as a place of worship but as a living gallery of early-20th-century devotional art in Central Texas.
Conclusion
These churches are not just places of worship; they are living monuments to Texas’s rich and varied history, inviting us to reflect on the past while inspiring faith and community in the present. As we conclude this journey, we’re reminded of the enduring power of faith and architecture in shaping the cultural and spiritual landscape of a region.
