Harris County
Harris County
Antioch Missionary Baptist
Year Built: 1875-1879
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church grew from a small group of freed slaves that first organized in 1866. The present church was designed and built by Richard Allen and it opened in 1879 in the center of Freedman’s Town. It was the first brick structure in Houston to be built and owned by African-Americans. The building grew over the years as its surroundings changed. Today, Antioch continues to serve the needs of her people and her community, proudly proclaiming the message: Jesus Saves.
Trinity Episcopal
Year Built: 1917-1919
Trinity Episcopal Church of Houston has existed as a house of worship and a center of its community for over a century. Trinity was a product of Houston’s expansion in the nineteenth century, when distance made it difficult for the faithful to travel to Christ Church, Trinity’s mother parish. Trinity parish built its present structure in Houston’s South End following a design by Ralph Adams Cram, one of the country’s most prominent architects. Trinity’s mission today is to serve as a beacon in the inner city where it has become a leading institution in the heart of Houston, determined to enhance the quality of urban life for everyone.
K’nesseth Israel
Year Built: 1930
Congregation K’Nesseth Israel in Baytown was chartered in 1928 by prominent business owners, most of whom were Russian immigrants. The modest yet beautiful brick synagogue was completed in 1930 following a design by Houston Jewish architect Leonard Gabert. It remained vibrant for decades, initially conducting Orthodox services in Hebrew. In the past 50 years, the congregation and the broader Jewish community in Baytown has become much smaller. Although K’nesseth Israel no longer has a rabbi, the congregation still meets for Shabbat services led by members of the community, which are now drawn from the Reform prayer book.
Image credits: Photos of church exteriors taken by UTSA-CCS personnel.
Antioch Missionary Baptist
Year Built: 1875-1879
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church grew from a small group of freed slaves that first organized in 1866. The present church was designed and built by Richard Allen and it opened in 1879 in the center of Freedman’s Town. It was the first brick structure in Houston to be built and owned by African-Americans. The building grew over the years as its surroundings changed. Today, Antioch continues to serve the needs of her people and her community, proudly proclaiming the message: Jesus Saves.
Trinity Episcopal
Year Built: 1917-1919
Trinity Episcopal Church of Houston has existed as a house of worship and a center of its community for over a century. Trinity was a product of Houston’s expansion in the nineteenth century, when distance made it difficult for the faithful to travel to Christ Church, Trinity’s mother parish. Trinity parish built its present structure in Houston’s South End following a design by Ralph Adams Cram, one of the country’s most prominent architects. Trinity’s mission today is to serve as a beacon in the inner city where it has become a leading institution in the heart of Houston, determined to enhance the quality of urban life for everyone.
K’nesseth Israel
Year Built: 1930
Congregation K’nesseth Israel in Baytown was chartered in 1928 by prominent business owners, most of whom were Russian immigrants. The modest yet beautiful brick synagogue was completed in 1930 following a design by Houston Jewish architect Leonard Gabert. It remained vibrant for decades, initially conducting Orthodox services in Hebrew. In the past 50 years, the congregation and the broader Jewish community in Baytown has become much smaller. Although K’nesseth Israel no longer has a rabbi, the congregation still meets for Shabbat services led by members of the community, which are now drawn from the Reform prayer book.
Image credits: Photos of church exteriors taken by UTSA-CCS personnel.