ST. PAUL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
THE EVERYBODY CHURCH
Open and Affirming 
Inviting and Celebrating
St. Paul United Church of Christ
5525 Lipes Blvd.
(off South Staples, 2nd light past Saratoga, turn right)
Corpus Christi, TX 78413
ph: 361-994-8899
fax: 361-994-8912
stpauluc
THE HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH
The History of St. Paul United Church of Christ
Corpus Christi, Texas,
begins with
The First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ
The First Congregational Church of Corpus Christi, Texas, was organized on November 24, 1866, by the Rev. Arron Rowe, who was a chaplain in the Civil War. At the close of the war, the Rev. Mr. Rowe came to Corpus Christi and found people, especially the freed slaves, in desperate need of a place to worship. Services were held in a home until a church was erected on North Broadway near the present Greyhound bus terminal. For years, the church’s steeple was a guide to mariners entering the port of Corpus Christi. After many years of service in that location, the manse was moved and, in 1967, a new church building was dedicated at 2927 Noakes. First Congregational Church United Church of Christ (UCC) is said to have been one of the oldest African-American churches in Texas.
During its 96th anniversary year (1962), First Congregational Church went through the ecumenical process with other Congregational churches and congregations of the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ. As a result of the merger, which had already been consummated in 1957, First Congregational Church UCC helped to form the Lay Life and Work agency and the South Texas Association, components of the South Central Conference of the UCC.
The United Church of Christ has roots deep in the colonial life of America and in the Reformation Movement in Europe. Congregationalism in what is now the United States came from the founding of Plymouth, Massachusetts, by the Pilgrims and the founding of Boston and the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the Puritans, both in the 1620’s.
The last pastor of the First Congregational Church UCC was a Rev. Mr. Williams. The church closed about 1970 and some of the members joined St. Paul United Church of Christ at that time. The bell from First Congregational Church UCC now sits on the lawn at the entrance to St. Paul.
St. Paul United Church of Christ
St. Paul UCC has a long history in the Coastal Bend of Texas. Over the years, the church has changed its name several times. In June, 1895, the Rev. C. Knicker came to Corpus Christi to investigate conditions preparatory to organizing a German Mission. "No response on the part of the community" was noted in Mr. Knicker's writings. On September 4, 1911, the Rev. C. Knicker made another visit to Corpus Christi and found conditions more favorable for founding a mission. The first name of the mission was Die Deutsche Evangelische Trinitatis Gemeinde (The German Evangelical Trinity Congregation) and it was founded on November 19, 1911. The first pastor was the Rev. Robert Hinze and the congregation met at Mestina Street. On September 22, 1912, the church began meeting at the First Presbyterian Church. The Congregation rented a house for a parsonage on Avenue A. The last six months of 1912 showed a congregational income of $9.46.
On July 25, 1915, the first service conducted by the Rev. John Biegeleisen was held at a place called “CentralWharf” (a dance pavilion on the waterfront). There were six people present and the offering was exactly $1.00. In September, 1915, services were held at 923 Laredo Street in a building which also served as the church parsonage. In 1916, the church changed its name to First Evangelical Church. In March of that year, a lot on the corner of Craig and Chamberlain Streets was purchased for $500 as the site for a new building. In September of 1918, services were disbanded because public use of the German language had been banned due to the First World War.
In 1919, church meetings were held in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and then in the First Christian Church. In 1920, the church changed its name again, this time to United Evangelical Church. In January of 1920, a contract was signed for the purchase of two lots and a house on the corner of Laredo Avenue and King Street for $2,800 and again plans were made to build a church. The church was still meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in February, 1921, when it was noted that services were being held in both the German and English languages. In October, 1921, construction of the first church building was started on the corner of Laredo and King. The corner lot on Craig and Chamberlain was given to a lumber company in exchange for building materials.
In December of 1921, dedication services for the new United Evangelical Church were held with Pastors Strauss and Biegeleisen officiating. The cost of the building was $2,500. In October, 1931, it was decided to hold all services in English. At that time, the church depended on income from church rental property to support the church along with generous aid from the Home Missions Board of the Evangelical Synod, the church body to which the congregation belonged. In 1938, a contract was let for $2,788.75 for the Sunday Church School building. The annex measured 30 feet by 40 feet and included three classrooms, a meeting room with a stage, a kitchen, and restrooms. In January of 1939, money was raised to pay for the building and special afternoon services in German were discontinued due to the outbreak of war in Europe.
In March 1942, the church's rental property on Topo Street was sold and the sale proceeds were designated to be used for relocation. After a congregational study lasting from August to November of 1945, the church voted to buy the property on Texan Trail at South Alameda, and the congregation requested $2,900 from the Board of National Missions of the Evangelical and Reformed Church to purchase the site. At that time, a number of members suggested that the church change the name of the congregation to one of a more Biblical nature. The congregation voted to sell the church property on Laredo Avenue for $17,000 cash, and the congregation requested permission from the buyers, a group of Spanish-speaking Mormons, to keep the cornerstone of the Sunday School Building. (The cornerstone is now in the narthex wall at St. Paul's current location on Lipes Boulevard.) The Biblical name chosen by the congregation was St. Paul, and the name of the church was changed to St. Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church.
Ground for the new building was finally broken in September, 1950, and the red granite cornerstone was laid in December, 1950. The Fellowship Hall was dedicated in June, 1954, and, in January, 1959, the new educational wing was dedicated. By the end of 1959, the glass windows in the church had been installed and dedicated. The fourteen window symbols tell the Bible story from the Creation to the Incarnation and Resurrection. (These windows were incorporated in the Lipes Boulevard building.) The Texan Trail church sanctuary was paid off in 1960.
In 1964, following the 1957 merger of the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, St. Paul Church again changed its name, this time to St. Paul United Church of Christ. In June 1988, an arsonist's fire destroyed the church sanctuary at 502 Texan Trail. For a short while, the church met at the First Christian Church but returned to Texan Trail to begin worshiping in the Fellowship Hall. Additionally, in 1988, the church became a "renewal church" with a new vision, and the congregation decided to relocate in order to build a new building. In 1989, the Rev. David Pantermuehl became pastor at St. Paul, and the property at 502 Texan Trail was sold to Whataburger.
In 1990, worship began in Bill Spencer’s Piano & Organ store, later moving to 5420 Everhart in Stonegate Center. In 1990, 3.2 acres were purchased at 5525 Lipes Boulevard for $215,000. In 1991, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Lipes location. During that time, services were held at the Luther Jones Elementary School, and St. Paul celebrated its 80th anniversary.
The new church was built so that almost every piece of stained glass from the old facility could be incorporated into the new building. The first services were held at the new location on November 17, 1991. The Rev. David Pantermuehl was installed as pastor and the new church dedicated on February 23, 1992. In October of 1998, St. Paul voted to become an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. After 10 years of service to St. Paul, the Rev. Mr. Pantermuehl left in 2002.
After several years of ministry by supply pastors, the Rev. Charles S. Brown was installed as pastor and teacher in March, 2008. In his trial sermon six months earlier, Pastor Brown called St. Paul to be "Resurrection People, a Kingdom Family, and The Everybody Church." As St. Paul approaches its 100th birthday in 2011, that is the identity and mission the congregation seeks, with God's help, to bring to life in the Corpus Christi community and throughout the world.
No matter who you are, and no matter where you are on life's journey, you are welcome to visit and join our kingdom family, where everybody finds God's passionate love in action.
WHO WE ARE NOW
AS "RESURRECTION PEOPLE"
WE ARE LEARNING PEOPLE, SEEKING TO SEE, STUDY, AND UNDERSTAND HOW GOD IS WORKING THROUGH US FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL GOD'S CREATION.
AS A "KINGDOM FAMILY"
WE ARE OPEN AND LOVING PEOPLE, SEEKING TO AFFIRM AND CARE FOR ALL GOD'S CREATION WITHOUT JUDGMENT, TELLING AND LIVING THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST WHEREVER WE GO.
AS "THE EVERYBODY CHURCH"
WE ARE PEOPLE ALIVE, SEEKING TO BE GENEROUSLY AND RADICALLY INCLUSIVE IN BOTH OUR WELCOME AND OUR WORSHIP, BECAUSE...
No matter who you are (and because of who you are) and no matter where you are on life's journey (a unique place where God has placed and found you and only you), we not only welcome you, but we celebrate you and your presence among us.
Celebrating 100 years of social justice in the Coastal Bend of Texas!
Copyright 2010 St. Paul United Church of Christ. All rights reserved.
St. Paul United Church of Christ
5525 Lipes Blvd.
(off South Staples, 2nd light past Saratoga, turn right)
Corpus Christi, TX 78413
ph: 361-994-8899
fax: 361-994-8912
stpauluc
