Why You Can’t Miss Out on a Trip to See the Painted Churches of Texas

If you are planning on visiting the Hill County area of Texas, you can’t miss out on visiting the Painted Churches. 

The Painted Churches were designed by immigrants who settled in the area in the 1800’s and early 1900’s from Germany and Eastern Europe. They wanted to take some of their old-world culture with them into the new world. So they designed churches that were reminiscent of the sanctuaries of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. 

The immigrants did not have the money to buy the expensive materials used in the churches of their homeland such as marble and precious metals. Instead, they used layers of paint and various architectural styles to simulate the look of the old-world properties. Their designs include florals, intricate patterns, cherubs and tromp l-oeil images. 

Only about 20 of the painted churches still stand today. This article will discuss six that stand out for their notable style. 

St. Paul’s Lutheran, Serbin

St. Paul’s Lutheran church was built in 1870 under the direction of Rev. John Kilian. It is one of the few non-Catholic painted churches. 

The church served as a worship house for immigrant farmers from Hamburg, Germany. It was originally built with a demure wood façade. But in 1906, the community decided to give it a facelift. They added designs without the help of a professional artist. 

Today, the church stands out for its gold accented cerulean ceilings and columns that feature intricate floral patterns and faux marble finishes. It is known for having the tallest pulpit in Texas, soaring a whopping twenty feet off the ground. 

It also has two stories of pews. Originally, these were segregated with men sitting in the bottom pews and women and children in the top pews. But now people sit wherever they wish. 

You can visit the church at 1572 CR211 in Giddings, TX. Mass is held at 8:30 AM on Sundays. Communion is given on the first and third Sundays of every month.

St. John the Baptist Church, Ammannsville

This church’s dusty rose interior has earned it the nickname, ‘the pink church’. It is the third church to be built on the property. The first was destroyed in a hurricane in 1909. 

A second was erected shortly after the first was destroyed. It was created by architect Leo Deilmann and featured decadent embellishments. Unfortunately, it burned in a fire eight years later. 

The church that currently stands was completed in 1919. Unlike the second church, it featured a simple design. But eventually, artists were brought in to liven things up using the paint styles that were incorporated in many of the original painted churches. 

Today, the pink church features gold stenciled ivy and angels, green flooring, painted statues, murals and stained-glass windows that tell the story of the immigrants’ Czech roots. 

You can visit the church at 7745 Mensik Rd. in Schulenberg, Tx. Mass is held on Sundays at 5 PM during odd months and Sunday at 9:30 AM during even months. They also have a Friday evening mass at 5 PM. 

Saint Cyril and Methodius Church Dubina

This Saint Cyril and Methodius Church was built by a group of immigrants who settled in the oak tree dotted area after an arduous journey from the old land. It was erected in 1877 after the Civil War. It was topped by an iron cross made by freed slave Tom Lee. 

Unfortunately, the church was destroyed in a 1909 hurricane. The community spared little time and built another church in 1912. They were able to salvage the cross and put it on top of their new steeple. 

The church was painted with sky blue domed ceilings that are decorated with gold stars, floral stencils, and angels. Statues lined the alter. A mural of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane was prominently featured. 

In the 1950’s a local diocese decided the vibrant interior was too distracting and he whitewashed the artwork. But in the 1980’s when churches were being celebrated for their painted interiors, the artwork was restored. 

You can visit the church at 4148 FM 1383 Dubina, TX. Mass is held on Saturdays at 4 PM and Sundays at 10:15 AM. 

St. Mary’s Church of the Assumption, Praha

St. Mary’s of the Assumption was built in 1895. It is the oldest of the Hill County Painted Churches. 

The church’s artwork was originally completed in 1901 by Gottfried Flury but embellishments were later added by Father Netardus, a hobbyist painter and musician. Gene A. Mikulik added updates in the mid-1900’s which included gold leaf designs in the sanctuary and a mural of the Virgin Mary. 

St. Mary’s features a blue green arched ceiling that is painted with a replica of the Garden of Eden. Its highly polished floors offer optimal reflection for the chandelier and stained-glass windows that hang above it. Its star feature is its white altar gilded in 24 karat gold. 

According to legend, the community had an offer out to give a community member beer in return for affixing the cross to their 130-foot-high steeple. The man who took the church up on it was said to have done a celebratory handstand on top of the church after completing the task. 

You can visit St. Mary’s at 821 FM 1295 in Flatonia, Tx. Masses are held throughout the week and on the weekends on Saturdays at 5:00 PM and Sundays at 9:00 AM. 

St. Mary’s Church, Fredericksburg

This St. Mary’s Church was build by one of the wealthier communities in Fredericksburg during the early 20th century. It was consecrated in 1908. 

The members of the congregation were able to use their funds to create a church that features corner towers, domed ceilings, intricate moldings, spectacular stained-glass ceilings, and buttresses. A custom pipe organ was built for the space by George Kilgen & Son in the early 1900’s. It has since been electrified and continues to fill the space with its dulcet tones. 

Notable features include stained glass windows depicting two children receiving communion from guardian angels. The artwork is based on immigrant children James and Erma who passed away at a young age. 

A mural of the 12 apostles runs the length of the center aisle. The artwork differs from other apostle depictions as Judas has been replaced with Matthias. 

You can visit St. Mary’s at 306 W. San Antonio St. in Fredericksburg. It has complicated mass schedule. If you wish to attend, check out the website for more details. 

St. Mary’s Church, High Hill

This church is often referred to as the “Queen of the Painted Churches”. It was built by German-Czech immigrants in 1906 and designed by Leo Dielmann. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

It was painted by two well known decorative artists, Ferdinand Stockert and Herman Kern, in 1912. Instead of doing their work directly on the walls and ceilings, they used canvases that were later affixed to the Gothic revival style building. 

The building has an unassuming red brick interior, which is countered by an elaborate interior design. Its sanctuary features a blue cupola with gold accents and its columns are painted to mimic the look of marble. 

Other features include a Lamb of God painting that sits behind the alter, 18 stained glass windows and a reproduction of Michelangelo’s Pieta sculpture which sits in the sanctuary. Paint was used to create the illusion of gothic groin vaults and joints. 

The church was built from brick to ensure it stayed standing in the event of fire or natural disaster. It has historical significance for being the birthplace of the Catholic State League. 

You can visit the church at 2833 FM 2672 in Schulenberg. Mass is held at 6:30 PM on Saturday and 7:00 AM on Wednesday. You can also stop by for its famous Labor Day picnic which features food, vendors, live entertainment and attracts hundreds of people each year. 

If you are planning on being in the Hill County area, you can’t miss out on a visit to the Painted Churches. They feature lovely artwork and provide insight to the culture of the region. Which will you be checking out when you’re in town? 

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