Central Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Central Presbyterian Church occupies a lot at 402 N. College Street in Waxahachie, in a mixed residential and commercial area just north of the central business district. Built in 1917-18 and designed by C. D. Hill of Dallas, it is a one-story load-bearing brick building set on a raised basement. Its Gothic Revival character shows in lancet arches and windows, stained glass in wood-sash frames, crenelated tower parapets and false buttresses. Stone is used extensively for the water table, string course, lintels, architraves, parapet and stair coping. Two unmatched towers flank the entry, and a large, similarly detailed addition stands at the rear. The congregation itself dates to 1853, when Daniel G. Mulkey organized it. The building was recognized for architecture as a fine local example of late Gothic Revival church design, and for its link to Hill, described as a prominent early twentieth-century architect. It remains a church in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine local example of a late Gothic Revival ecclesiastical structure, meeting Criterion C for architecture. It was designed by C. D. Hill, described as a prominent early 20th-century architect. The congregation was organized in 1853 by Daniel G. Mulkey.
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 86002362, listed September 11, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 402 N. College, Waxahachie |
|---|---|
| County | Ellis County |
| Listed | September 11, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86002362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | C. D. Hill of Dallas |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is listed as excellent, and the building remains in use as a church. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.38906, -96.84477 (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 86002362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5061704
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.