First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Located at 32 North Irving in downtown San Angelo, this buff brick church with stone trim was built in 1906 at a cost of $40,000, with a tabernacle finished between 1908 and 1909. The building is roughly cruciform with a rounded apse, steeply pitched roofs ending in parapeted gables, and a corner tower near the west entrance. Monumental steps lead to three arched doorways, and a large rose window sits above. The tower once stood almost twice its present height, but its upper part was removed between 1925 and 1956. A brick corridor links the old church to a 1949 south wing, which is not part of the nomination. The congregation was organized in 1885 by the Reverend J.H. Zivley. The church is recognized as one of the oldest major structures in San Angelo, with notable interiors and a large, ornate water-powered organ. It is a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark and a local landmark across from City Hall.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest major structures in San Angelo and a prominent downtown landmark across from City Hall. The nomination points to its architecturally significant interiors and a large, ornate water-powered organ. It is also a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark, and the congregation dates to 1885.
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 88002604, listed November 25, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 32 N. Irving, San Angelo |
|---|---|
| County | Tom Green County |
| Listed | November 25, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002604 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is listed as good; the original upper part of the tower was removed between 1925 and 1956. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.46434, -100.44195 (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 88002604.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453631
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.