Texana Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1859-60 in the Jackson County town of Texana, this small wood-frame church is a provincial interpretation of Greek Revival style, made with local materials and craftsmanship. It had a pedimented gable, pilasters, tall narrow windows and a louvered bell tower with a conical spire. Texana was a busy commercial center and county seat until the railroad of 1882 bypassed it by seven miles and the new town of Edna took its trade and residents. In 1884 the Presbyterian congregation moved the church to Edna, and in 1887 added a Gothic Revival apse. After the congregation built a larger church in 1908, the old building was sold and moved three blocks, then used for storage. Its siding, roof, doors, windows, tower and interior were lost or covered. By 1979 a restoration association had commissioned drawings to return it to its post-1887 appearance, with a move back onto church property planned. The building is valued as a rare surviving example of its style and a record of Texana's decline.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a rare and excellent example of Texas Greek Revival architecture adapted to mid-19th-century frontier building conditions. It is also one of the last remaining structures from the once-thriving commercial town of Texana. Its relocation to Edna reflects how the railroad shifted settlement patterns in the 19th century.
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 79002982, listed September 12, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Apollo Dr. and Country Club Lane, Edna |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | September 12, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002982 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1859-60, 1887 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (Texas provincial interpretation), with 1887 Gothic Revival apse addition |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Heavily altered by its use as storage after 1908; a restoration plan was prepared and the building was to be moved back onto church property in 1979. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.96489, -96.65571 (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 79002982.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7707327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.