First Protestant Church
Why it's listed
This cut limestone church at 296 South Seguin Street in New Braunfels was built for a congregation that traces back to German settlers who arrived with Prince Solms in 1845. The congregation chartered in 1845 and first worshipped in a log church. About 1870 it decided to build larger, formed a building committee instead of hiring a contractor, and commissioned architect Jacob Langkopf. The cornerstone was laid July 18, 1875, and the first service in the new building took place March 16, 1879. A bell tower was dedicated in 1889 and the interior was finished by 1893. The church has lancet-arched openings, limestone corner pilasters, string courses and a stained glass fan light over the double door. A 1955 renovation lengthened the nave, added transepts and rooms beside the tower, and added a basement. The nomination describes the building as strongly German in character and a notable example of German settler architecture in Texas.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is strongly German in character, possibly more a continuation of a traditional German vernacular type than true Gothic Revival. Its massing, simple forms and fine stonework make it a notable example of the architecture of German settlers in Texas. It also continues the congregation founded by German settlers in 1845.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000926, listed July 14, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 296 S. Sequin St., New Braunfels |
|---|---|
| County | Comal County |
| Listed | July 14, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000926 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1875, 1889) |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Langkopf (architect); built by a congregation building committee rather than a contractor |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival, with German vernacular character |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, occupied and in religious use; renovated in 1955 with a lengthened nave and added transepts. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Central New Braunfels Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.70107, -98.12288 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000926.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453730
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.