| Holy Trinity Episcopal Church |
| Port Neches, Texas |
| Holy Trinity: Our History . . . Our Journey |
The story is told of friendship and of country roads, for back in the 1940’s a time when some roads were still dirt, the nearest
Episcopal church was St. George’s in Port Arthur. Some of the early Episcopalians who lived in the mid-county area were
adverse to traveling so far along those then isolated country roads. Nobody was dissatisfied with any of the area churches,
but it was just too long a distance to pile everybody in the old car, especially when times were tough and new tires were still
hard to come by following World War II.
There just happened to be three towns — known as the Golden Triangle -- nestled together between Beaumont and Port
Arthur: Nederland, Port Neches, and Groves. Episcopalians lived here but had to travel a long way to worship. Two old
friends, Stella Prejean and Sheldon Lee , got together and decided to take matters into their own hands and see about
establishing an Episcopal presence in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Since they both lived in Port Neches at the time, they
met at Sheldon’s house under the direction of The Reverend Thomas M. W. Yerxa, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in
nearby Orange. Ten persons signed an application for Trinity Episcopal Church, and the first Sunday service of Holy
Communion was held in the Port Neches home of Mrs. Stella Prejean on July 6, 1947.
Episcopal church was St. George’s in Port Arthur. Some of the early Episcopalians who lived in the mid-county area were
adverse to traveling so far along those then isolated country roads. Nobody was dissatisfied with any of the area churches,
but it was just too long a distance to pile everybody in the old car, especially when times were tough and new tires were still
hard to come by following World War II.
There just happened to be three towns — known as the Golden Triangle -- nestled together between Beaumont and Port
Arthur: Nederland, Port Neches, and Groves. Episcopalians lived here but had to travel a long way to worship. Two old
friends, Stella Prejean and Sheldon Lee , got together and decided to take matters into their own hands and see about
establishing an Episcopal presence in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Since they both lived in Port Neches at the time, they
met at Sheldon’s house under the direction of The Reverend Thomas M. W. Yerxa, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in
nearby Orange. Ten persons signed an application for Trinity Episcopal Church, and the first Sunday service of Holy
Communion was held in the Port Neches home of Mrs. Stella Prejean on July 6, 1947.
The services in the early years were held at the old city library which was rented
for $10 per month. In 1948, Mrs. Stella Prejean gave the new mission a house
which was moved from Port Neches Avenue to a 50 ft. lot on Live Oak Street.
The congregation became carpenters, painters and electricians, converting the
house into a chapel with one Sunday School room in the rear. The altar, still in use
today, was hand-carved in Belgium, and was already one hundred years old when
it was donated to Holy Trinity by St. Paul’s Church in Orange. St. Mark’s Church in
Beaumont donated pews for the church building. Bishop Quinn gave the mission a
silver communion set. Mrs. Prejean bought the cross for the altar and Mr. and Mrs.
Hebert gave the processional cross. The Will Block Estate gave the mission a
church bell which was hung in a belfry. People contribute time and talent and
money to help the new mission in many different ways.
for $10 per month. In 1948, Mrs. Stella Prejean gave the new mission a house
which was moved from Port Neches Avenue to a 50 ft. lot on Live Oak Street.
The congregation became carpenters, painters and electricians, converting the
house into a chapel with one Sunday School room in the rear. The altar, still in use
today, was hand-carved in Belgium, and was already one hundred years old when
it was donated to Holy Trinity by St. Paul’s Church in Orange. St. Mark’s Church in
Beaumont donated pews for the church building. Bishop Quinn gave the mission a
silver communion set. Mrs. Prejean bought the cross for the altar and Mr. and Mrs.
Hebert gave the processional cross. The Will Block Estate gave the mission a
church bell which was hung in a belfry. People contribute time and talent and
money to help the new mission in many different ways.
The young parish soon outgrew its Live Oak facility. It was out to
the country on Nall street where the parishioners bought a piece
of land on which to build a new church. Thankfully, the
parishioners had the foresight to obtain the whole block that was
facing Nall. Ground breaking for a new church facility was held on
October 30, 1955, and the Live Oak property was sold in
November. Services were held in the Port Neches Chronicle
building above Hill Chevrolet until March 11, 1956 when Bishop
John Hines and the Reverend Charles Dobbins dedicated the new
Mission building on Nall Street. That building is now our Parish
Hall.
the country on Nall street where the parishioners bought a piece
of land on which to build a new church. Thankfully, the
parishioners had the foresight to obtain the whole block that was
facing Nall. Ground breaking for a new church facility was held on
October 30, 1955, and the Live Oak property was sold in
November. Services were held in the Port Neches Chronicle
building above Hill Chevrolet until March 11, 1956 when Bishop
John Hines and the Reverend Charles Dobbins dedicated the new
Mission building on Nall Street. That building is now our Parish
Hall.
In 1985 the parish needed to expand again, and this time it
was to build a new Nave. This time, the “Country Road” had
given way to a new four-lane paved street linking the new Port
Arthur Central Mall area to Port Neches. On March 3, 1998
we got the green light from the Diocese to take out a loan to
expand the existing Nave, just as we were burning the
mortgage for the 1985 expansion. The same bell we started
with now hangs near the top of our bell tower, which is now
equipped with a Carillon that rings at 12 noon, 6:00 p.m. daily,
and before the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday. The building
expansion was completed in time for Rally Day in September
of 1998, and it is the facility in use today.
was to build a new Nave. This time, the “Country Road” had
given way to a new four-lane paved street linking the new Port
Arthur Central Mall area to Port Neches. On March 3, 1998
we got the green light from the Diocese to take out a loan to
expand the existing Nave, just as we were burning the
mortgage for the 1985 expansion. The same bell we started
with now hangs near the top of our bell tower, which is now
equipped with a Carillon that rings at 12 noon, 6:00 p.m. daily,
and before the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday. The building
expansion was completed in time for Rally Day in September
of 1998, and it is the facility in use today.
Over the years, several additions were made to the building:
- 1955 Ground breaking for the Nall Street property
1956 Dedication of the Mission Building on Nall Street
1959 Sunday School Wing added
1964 The Rectory on 12th Street was completed
1985 The ground breaking for the new Nave
1986 February 6, 1986, Service held in the new Nave
1991 The first paved parking lot added
1994 The flat roof on the Christian Education wing was
converted to a pitched roof
1994 The parking lot was doubled in size
1997 Parking lot off Baker Street
1998 Nave was remodeled and expanded
2007 Installation of a Collumbarium in the Narthex
Growing pains soon struck again. In March of 1959 another ground breaking was held, and this time it was for a
Sunday School Wing. Trinity Mission became a Parish in 1960 and the Articles of Association is now framed and
hanging in the parish hall. It contains all the names of adult communicants who were present that day.
Sunday School Wing. Trinity Mission became a Parish in 1960 and the Articles of Association is now framed and
hanging in the parish hall. It contains all the names of adult communicants who were present that day.
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, today, is a diverse congregation. The services on Sundays offer different worship
styles that appeal to different people. Our many activities and ministries provide places for people to fit in, participate,
and exercise their many talents and interests. We also believe that Holy Trinity is fun place to be. God is present
here and good things are happening.
styles that appeal to different people. Our many activities and ministries provide places for people to fit in, participate,
and exercise their many talents and interests. We also believe that Holy Trinity is fun place to be. God is present
here and good things are happening.
| We invite you to explore Holy Trinity Episcopal Church for yourself Talk to people Meet the Rector, the Vestry, and all the many people who worship, minister and volunteer their services here Try out the services Experience God! |
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Home Christianity Episcopalians Our Parish Service Schedule Maps & Directions Calendar Ministry Schedule Web Links
HTEC-PN - 2007
Home Christianity Episcopalians Our Parish Service Schedule Maps & Directions Calendar Ministry Schedule Web Links
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 2425 Nall St., Port Neches, TX 77651
voice 409.722.6238 fax 409.722.2441
HTEC-PN - 2007
