Austin Church Driving tour focused on the 1928 plan and segregation.
Description
Church and segregation
Mt. Olive Baptist Church was founded in 1876 and has been a pillar of the African American community in Austin for over a century. The church was one of the first to provide a school for African American children in Austin, and its members were active in the fight for civil rights. Jacob Fontaine served as the church's pastor from 1888 to 1892, and his legacy of activism and leadership continued long after he left.
New Hope Baptist Church was founded in 1909 and has a long history of involvement in the Austin community. During the civil rights movement, the church played an important role in organizing protests and boycotts against businesses that refused to serve African Americans. The church also provided space for meetings and events for civil rights leaders.
Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Austin is a historic church that has been serving the community since 1853. The church has played an important role in the city's history, culture, and social justice movements. It is a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture and has been recognized as a significant cultural landmark. The church has a rich history of supporting the community through outreach and social justice initiatives, and it continues to be an important part of Austin's religious and cultural landscape today During the civil rights movement, the church was an active supporter of the desegregation of public schools and provided space for meetings and events for civil rights leaders. In 1963, the church's rector, William Brewster, joined a group of religious leaders who marched to the Texas State Capitol to protest segregation.
St. David's Episcopal Church, established and built in 1854, stands as an enduring testament to Austin's rich history. Designed in the Gothic Revival style by its first pastor, Edward Fontaine. This remarkable structure holds the distinction of being one of the oldest buildings in the city*1. At the time, Edward did have a slave who was the sexton at the church, named Jacob Fontaine. While still a slave, he honed his pastoral skills by preaching in the basement of the old Methodist Church*2. Jacob would go onto become a leader in Austin’s black community, including helping to find 6 more churches, and creating the first black newspaper in Texas, The Gold Dollar*3. At the time of its construction, it was among a select few Episcopalian churches in the entire state of Texas. The church's origins trace back to the merger of two congregations: Christ Church, founded in 1847, and the Church of the Epiphany, established in 1851*4. Notable members of Austin's community attended the church, solidifying its prominence in the region.
Congress Avenue Baptist Church was founded in 1871 and has been an active participant in the Austin community for over a century. During the civil rights movement, the church was a center for activism and played a significant role in the fight for civil rights in Austin. The church provided space for meetings and events for civil rights leaders, and its members participated in protests and boycotts against segregation. Jacob Fontaine served as a pastor at Congress Avenue Baptist Church before founding his own church, First Baptist Church of Christ.