Church of the Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary
Why it's listed
Built in 1896 at a cost of $4,000, this wood-frame church on FM Road 2672 serves the community of St. Mary's in Lavaca County. It follows the Gothic Revival style, with a rectangular plan, a polygonal apse, a corner sacristy and a central bell tower topped by an octagonal spire and Latin cross. Pointed arches with hood molds frame the windows and doors, and the interior has a nave with wooden columns, beaded board walls and barrel vaults. Around 1945 painter Arthur Fatjo decorated the apse ceiling by freehand technique with a cloud bank, cherub heads and a dove symbolizing the Immaculate Conception. The parish is considered the oldest rural Catholic parish in Texas, with roots in a settlement visited by Reverend John Mary Odin in 1840, and its land was sold to Bishop Odin in 1841. The church was listed for its well-preserved 19th-century Gothic Revival character and its decorative painting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a 19th-century survival of Gothic Revival style that substantially retains its original 1896 appearance. Its freehand decorative ceiling painting from the mid-1940s is a late example of that craft. The parish is also considered the oldest rural Catholic parish in Texas.
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 83003150, listed June 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | FM 2672, St. Mary's |
|---|---|
| County | Lavaca County |
| Listed | June 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003150 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect and builder unknown; interior craftsman Arthur Fatjo |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.44802, -96.99716 (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 83003150.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117962
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.