Christ Episcopal Church

The Rt. Rev. Alexander Gregg, first bishop of Texas, began missionary work with this congregation in 1866-1867. The earliest worship services were held in borrowed facilities. The first rector was Hungarian-born Emir Bela Gyeita Cardis Hamvasy, who arrived in 1872. Christ Church Parish was organized in 1874 and moved into a small church building. Plans for a larger brick structure were finalized in 1918. The Rev. Chauncey Edgar Snowden led the first services in the building on Oct. 6, 1918. Today the congregation includes descendants of the earliest parishioners.

Christ Episcopal Church is a historical marker in Tyler, Smith County, dedicated in 1981. It is one of 90 historical markers documented in Smith County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 272 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.3498, -95.3028 near Tyler. The nearest cataloged historic site is Tyler Carnegie Library (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Carnegie Public Library, Jenkins--Harvey Super Service Station and Garage, and People's National Bank Building.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5423007713. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.