St. David's Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas
historic place
St. David's Episcopal Church in Austin, Travis County, traces its origins to the mid-19th century. The parish was established in 1851, initially as the Church of the Epiphany. Its cornerstone was laid on April 7, 1853, for Austin's first stone church. The main building, constructed from 1853 to 1854, used native limestone, blending Spanish Mission and Gothic styles. The church was renamed Saint David's in 1859, honoring Bishop Alexander Gregg. It briefly split in 1856 over slavery and states' rights, reunifying in 1859. The 1853 bell from Philadelphia remains in use. St. David's Episcopal Church became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This site reflects Austin's early architectural and social development.