Getsemani Presbyterian Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm going to do my best to honor every word. This is Duane, and this is Getsemani Presbyterian Church. Now, in the first decade of the twentieth century, something was stirring down in the Rio Grande Valley.

A number of immigrants came up from Mexico and put down roots in a newly founded town called San Benito. Among them were families who carried their faith with them, specifically the principles of the Presbyterian Church of Mexico. They hadn't left that behind at the border.

Not by a long shot. In 1911, those Presbyterian families organized. They called themselves the Mexican Presbyterian Church of San Benito, and right away they had help from a woman named Anne E.

Dysart. She was a missionary and a teacher who had evacuated Mexico during the country's revolution, and she stepped right into the work, leading Sunday services and opening a school. The congregation officially dedicated their church on October 19, 1911.

That date matters. Remember it. They weren't finished.

By 1912, the congregation had gathered enough funds to purchase a lot at the corner of Biddle and Hull Streets, and they built their first church building right there on that corner. Then 1917 brought a reorganization. And 1919 brought two things at once: the congregation became a member of the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A., and that same year, they moved their buildings to 140 Diaz Street.

One year, two big moves. That's a congregation with momentum. The years kept rolling.

As time passed, the congregation became largely English-speaking, and in 1961 the church changed its name to 2nd Presbyterian Church, reflecting that shift. Then in 1979, the members renamed it again: Getsemani Presbyterian Church. The name that sticks to this day.

Now here's where the story gets bigger than just one congregation. Getsemani has a long history of aiding the community, and I mean that in the most practical, rolled-up-sleeves sense. The church has hosted the Texas Migrant Council's community center.

It has run a food bank and a clothes closet. It has functioned as an emergency distribution center. It has offered English classes.

It has set up a benevolent fund for the indigent. And looking outward, the congregation has opened missions in Harlingen, Las Flores, and El Fresnal. From a small gathering of immigrant families in a brand-new town, to a church still standing and still serving on the edge of the community and beyond it.

From October 19, 1911, all the way to today, Getsemani Presbyterian Church continues to be a spiritual leader in San Benito. Some roots go down deep, and they hold.

What the marker says

In the first decade of the 20th century, a number of immigrants came from Mexico and settled in the newly founded town of San Benito. Among these immigrants were individuals who followed the prinicples of the Presbyterian Church of Mexico. In 1911, Presbyterian families in San Benito organized the Mexican Presbyterian Church of San Benito. Anne E. Dysart, a missionary and teacher who evacuated Mexico during the country's revolution, led Sunday services and opened a school. The congregation officially dedicated the church on October 19, 1911. By 1912, the congregation gathered funds to purchase a lot at the corner of Biddle and Hull Streets to build their first church building. In 1917, the church reorganized and in 1919, it became a member of the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. That same year, the congregation moved their buildings to 140 Diaz Street. As the years passed, the congregation became largely English-speaking; to reflect the shift, the church changed names to 2nd Presbyterian Church in 1961. In 1979, the members renamed it Getsemani Presbyterian Church. The Getsemani congregation has a long history of aiding the community. The church has hosted the Texas Migrant Council's community center, run a food bank and a clothes closet, functioned as an emergency distribution center, offered English classes, and set up a benevolent fund for the indigent. The congregation has also focused strongly on area outreach, opening missions in Harlingen, Las Flores and El Fresnal. Today, Getsemani Presbyterian Church continues to be a spiritual leader in the San Benito community.