Visit The Small Town In Texas That Has A Beautiful Church On Practically Every Corner
By Katie Lawrence|Published August 03, 2019
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Churches are inherently beautiful, but there’s a handful right here in Texas guaranteed to absolutely take your breath away. Hiding in and around the small town of Pflugerville, the “Painted Churches” prove that Old World European architecture is still alive and well in the 21st century.
Although undeniably majestic, nothing about this church appears out-of-the-ordinary judging by its exterior. That all changes, however, when you walk through the doors and revel in the extraordinary majesty waiting inside.
Czech and German immigrants settled the tiny East Texas town of Schulenburg and surrounding communities several centuries ago. One of the first things on their agenda was building majestic, opulent churches reminiscent of their homelands.
Due to their intricate artwork, the buildings have been dubbed "Painted Churches." There are 20 in total, each one having earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Mary's Parish dates back to 1855 when it was constructed with stone brought in from a nearby village by oxen. A Swiss artist covered the walls in elaborate paintings which still remain in their original condition today.
This is Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, whose ceiling resembles the sky of a cloudless summer afternoon. It was initially constructed in the late 1800s, but unfortunately a 1909 fire devastated the church. A replacement was built just three years later — while it will never be quite like its predecessor, many valuable artifacts were able to be salvaged and put on display.
Just six miles away is St. Mary's Catholic Church in High Hill. Despite being one of the newest of the bunch (taking renovations into account), its been nicknamed "Queen of the Painted Churches" due to its sheer size and grandiosity.
Visitors can explore the churches at their leisure between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Alternatively, call (979) 743-4514 to book a guided van tour.
