Architecture of Central Presbyterian Church (Austin) - Austin

Central Presbyterian Church (Austin) picture.

Photograph © Wayne Lorentz

Formerly: First Southern Presbyterian Church
Built: 1950
Type: Holy Place
Location: 200 East Eighth
City: Austin
State: Texas

T he wonderful thing about old churches in urban cores is that they show how much the world has changed around them. When the first Central Presbyterian Church was erected in 1870, Texas was a different place. The frontier was still fresh and new. Texas was an exciting place where animals ran free and oil was still unknown. When Central Presbyterian was built, it was the church on the hill overlooking the river valley below. The land under the church hasn't moved, but the land around it has. Central Presbyterian sits ten feet above the current street level, and its view of the river is blocked by modern skyscrapers.

Though it is hemmed in by a modern city, it is undeniably frontier Texan in design. Its beige color, typical of Texas architecture even to this day, comes from local stone quarried to build this outpost. Narrow vertical slits of windows let in some light, but are small to keep out the Texas heat.

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