Church History

A HISTORICAL TIME LINE OF ST. LUKE’S BELTON

1835 – Rev. Richard S. Salmon, first Episcopal priest to come to Texas arrives.

1839 – Rev. Caleb Ives organizes Christ Church, Matagorda; Mother Church to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

1850 – New county created in East Central Texas.  The county is named for Peter Hanborough Bell, new governor of Texas.

First convention of the Diocese of Texas meets at Christ Church, Houston.

1852 – Nolan Springs chosen as County Seat of Bell County.  the town is incorporated by the legislature and the name changed to Belton, a contraction of Bell and Town.

1854 – Episcopalians hold services in Bell County at the home of Mrs. Isabell Nelson on N. Pearl St. in Belton.

1859 – The Rev. Alexander Gregg elected first Bishop of the Diocese of Texas.

1860 – Bishop Gregg organizes a mission in Belton, with the Rev. Lindsey P. Rucker serving churches in Cameron and Belton.

1863 – Fourteen Convention of the diocese admits St. Luke’s Church to the roll of Parishes.  Requirements for membership being to organize a Vestry and pledge toward the salary of the clergy for the church.

1867 – Pioneering families of St. Luke’s; the Nelsons, Venebale’s, Rucker’s, Ludlow’s, Pendelton’s, Taylor’s, McIlhenny’s, Lee’s, Denny’s and Burfords.  Services for the church were held at the home of Nat and Dr. R. C. Nelson and Mrs. E. Walker a few miles from Belton.

1873 – The Rev. W. W. Patrick reported to the 24th Annual Council that in 1874 a building would be constructed in Belton, “a rock house 27 by 39 feet, recess chance I – semi-gothic style.”  Completed cost to be three thousand dollars to which fourteen hundred dollars had been received.

A lot on the corner of North Wall and Fifth Street was purchased from the Buford family for $60,000.

Original stained glass windows were given by New York Churches.

1875 – On April 18th, Bishop Gregg consecrated the new Church.

1876 – The annual parish reports states that the Sunday school had 26 attendees.

1880 – The railroad bypasses Belton to Temple.  Temple begins to be the center of commerce.

1882 – St. Luke’s host annual Diocesan Council.

1883 – Christ Church, a mission, opens in Temple.

1885 – The women’s branch of Baylor University opens in Belton.

1893 – The Rt. Rev. George Kinsolving becomes Bishop of Texas.

1894 – 1900 No priest at St. Luke’s due to needs at Christ Church.

1900 – The Rev. J. A. Duncan laments of the growth of Temple and Christ Church and its affects on Belton and St. Luke’s.

1912 – Only Sunday evening services are held at St. Luke’s.

1917 – The Women’s Auxiliary Board of Missions organized at St. Luke’s.  The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Lucy Venable Buford, ten members join the group.

1918 – Bishop Clinton Quinn helps St. Luke’s to buy a three story house to be a female dormitory and rectory.  Eight to ten female students from Baylor Female College move in.  Mrs. Alice Chamberlin is installed as the house mother for St. Mar’s Hall.

1921 – St. Luke’s is relegated to Mission status.

1922 – A frame room is added to the Church building, the room is situated where the bell tower will be located.

1925 – Women of St. Luke’s are organized; they become the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) in 1975.

1928 – St. Luke’s again without a priest, this last until 1938.

The Rt. Rev. Clinton Quinn becomes Bishop of Texas.

1930 – Christ Church attempts to consolidate with St. Luke’s due to financial problems; St. Luke’s declines.

1943 – The Senior Warden ask that the Lady’s Guild to take over the business affairs of the Church, paying all the bills!

1945 – The prospect of dissolving St. Luke’s is seriously discussed, this continues until 1947.

1947 – Everett G. Smith assigned as Lay Reader – In Charge by Bishop Quinn.  He re-invigorates the mission and continually reminds the church that “every worshipper in our Church is at liberty worship as he sees fit.”

1948 – The Altar Guild is organized; Mrs. C. C. Countess and Mrs. Harry Blair are appointed as directors.

1952 – The Rev. Irwin Kracke serves St. Luke’s and St. Christopher’s in Killeen.  The church struggles to purchase and pay for a new rectory at

734 N. Wall St.

Cook Book published by the Guild as a fund raiser; “Belton’s Own Cook Book” was successful and sold out quickly.

1955 – The Rt. Rev. John Hines becomes Diocesan Bishop.

1956 – First Diocesan Quota (Assessment) paid.

1957 – The old rectory on N. Wall St. is sold.  Mr. John R. Sanderford gives the parish a lot on East 22nd. Ave. and with the financial help of the diocese a new rectory is built.

1959 – Air conditioning is installed at the church building on Wall St. for $800.00.  St. Mark’s Church of Houston made the church a gift of an air conditioner which was installed in the Parish house for $200.

1961 – A Daughter’s of the King Chapter is organized at St. Luke’s.

1963 – A day school is established fro kindergartners which will operate until 1973 when the Belton School District assumed control of this program.

1965 – The Rt. Rev. Milton Richardson becomes Bishop Diocesan.

1978 – The original Church building is declared unsafe.  Sunday services are held in the Parish hall.  Mr. and Mrs. Roy Sanderford give St. Luke’s a city block between 21st and 22nd Avenues and Beal and Downing Streets.

1968 – The new church building is started on September 19th, at an estimated cost of $44,000.  It is constructed of red brick with white trim.

The “Why Not Shop”, a resale shop opens in downtown Belton.  The shop is a project of the Women of the Church.

1969 – Bishop Milton Richardson consecrates the new Church.

1970 – Women are allowed to serve on Vestries!

1971 – the 1874 Church building is sold to B ell Fine Arts for $3000.

1978 – The children of Lon F. Rowlett give marble statute of Jesus and Mary to St. Luke’s.

1980 – The original note on the new church is paid off.

The Rev. Maurice Benitez is consecrated as Bishop of Texas.

A pipe organ is purchased by the congregation and installed by parishioners.

1985 – Construction on a new nave is started at the current location.

1987 – The new church nave is consecrated by Bishop Benitez.

1988 – The ECW publishes “Home Cooking”.

1995 – The Rt. Rev. Claude Payne becomes Bishop of Texas.

“The storage shed” was cleaned out behind Fletcher’s Bookstore in Salado and a tiny chapel was born. Four antique pews from the old St. Luke’s church and a simple altar made up the furnishings.

1996 – On Ash Wednesday Fr. Joe Sheldon conducted the liturgy and began a weekly 9:30am Tuesday morning Eucharist the next week.

1999 – On Saturday, March 20, 1999, St. Joseph’s Chapel was dedicated in a ceremony conducted by Fr. Joe Sheldon and Fr. Tom Wallace. The Parish Mission was born.

1997 – The first Feast of St. Mary is held.

2003 – The Rev. Don Wimberley becomes Bishop of Texas.

2009 – The Rt. Rev. Andrew Doyle becomes Bishop Diocesan.

2011-The Rev. Bob Bliss is appointed Rector of St. Luke’s in Belton and St. Joeph’s, its Parish Mission, in Salado