All Saints' Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just along for the ride. Way out in Mitchell County, where the West Texas wind has plenty of open country to work with, there's a little Episcopal church with a story that starts, as so many good stories do, with a handful of stubborn men and a piece of open ground. The year was 1882, and the ones gatherin' to worship weren't cowboys in the usual sense.

These were sheep-ranching Englishmen, laymen every one, holding services on their own before there was any formal organization to speak of. Just faith and determination and probably a fair amount of wool. Now, a year later, in 1883, the Rt.

Rev. A.C. Garrett came through.

Pioneer Episcopal Bishop of Dallas, and the word pioneer is doing real work in that title. He organized the congregation officially, listed it as Grace Mission, and counted eight communicants on the books. Eight souls.

That was the foundation. Then came the building. With some assistance from New York and other areas, the church was erected in 1885, and the very next year, 1886, it was consecrated as All Saints.

The buttresses went up. The stucco finish was added. A parish house joined the picture.

But here's the detail that'll stay with you long after the dust settles back on the road. That original bell, the one that rang when this congregation was brand new, still rings today. Same bell.

Out here in Mitchell County, that's not just a footnote. That's the whole sermon.

What the marker says

Outgrowth of 1882 worship by laymen (mostly sheep-ranching Englishmen). Organized 1883 by The Rt. Rev. A.C. Garrett, pioneer Episcopal Bishop of Dallas, who listed this as "Grace Mission", with eight communicants. With some assistance from New York and other areas, the church was erected 1885 and consecrated as "All Saints" in 1886. Original bell is still in use. The buttresses, stucco finish, and parish house have been added. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1968.