First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 at 410 W. Kaufman in Paris, Texas, this brick church follows a cruciform plan and is the city's leading local example of Richardsonian Romanesque design. Its features include an ashlar base, belt course and lintels, lateral gables with round-headed Belgian stained-glass windows, and a dominant four-story tower with round-headed vents under a bracketed cornice. A gabled, round-headed entry porch and a small cupola above the transept add to the composition. Inside are a vaulted ceiling, commemorative plaques, original pews, a communion table, a pulpit and an early organ. The congregation began as Old School Presbyterian Church, founded by Rev. John Anderson in 1861, and commissioned this building three decades later. L.B. Volk & Son and W.R. Eubank are named as architect and builder, and Capt. J.M. Daniels is said to have helped shape the design. It is the oldest remaining church structure in Paris and still serves as a church in a largely residential neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The form calls it the premier local example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and the oldest remaining church structure in Paris. The congregation began as Old School Presbyterian Church, founded by Rev. John Anderson in 1861, and commissioned this building in 1892. Capt. J.M. Daniels is said to have helped design it.
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 88001913, listed October 26, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 410 W. Kaufman, Paris |
|---|---|
| County | Lamar County |
| Listed | October 26, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001913 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | L.B. Volk & Son / W.R. Eubank |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is good; still used as a church. Alterations include plexiglass over the windows, a 1960 addition to the north, and removal of the south belvedere. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 33.66157, -101.48518 (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 88001913.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453616
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.