Central Presbyterian Church
National Register of Historic Places

Central Presbyterian Church

Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas
Listed
September 10, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86002362

About this property

Central Presbyterian Church (CPC) is a historic church at 402 N. College in Waxahachie, Texas. Each of the 250+ members is from varied denominational backgrounds, united together for the glory of God and the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge. Central Presbyterian has a dynamic youth group and strong ties to Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. It is an established church in a historic community. CPC is part of Grace Presbytery and Presbyterian Church (USA). "Inspired by the grace of God we nurture and enrich the spiritual faith of our church community and exemplify God’s transcending love in our daily lives through our worship, witness and actions so all will come to know and embrace the redeeming power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Together, we are the body of Christ. The power of the mission statement lies in the application to the vision, ministries, and day to day activities of this church and by each individual through the Holy Spirit." Central Presbyterian Church was founded in 1853 when the Reverend B. Malloy organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, with twelve charter members. With the union of two national Presbyterian denominations in 1905, the local congregation took the name of Central Presbyterian Church of Waxahachie, Texas. The current building was first used on Easter of 1919. Designed by architect C.D. Hill, this late Gothic Revival building was constructed of oriental brick trimmed in white stone, with a seating capacity of approximately five hundred. The cost of the building and furnishings was $112,522. The pipe organ, which is an Austin Opus 809, and is still in operation, was donated. In 1950, CPC sponsored a refugee family from post WWII Communist-ruled Hungary, the Zsohars. With two days' notice, the congregation responded and got a house ready for the family. Ed Clark, head of the Men’s Bible class, said as he addressed the congregation, “Today, we became a church!” The relationship established with the Zsohar family has had a long-lasting impact on CPC’s mission of reaching out to others beyond our walls and into the world. Surviving Through Faith, written by Zoltan Zsohar, chronicles how God used the members of CPC in 1950 to respond to the family’s needs, welcome them to their new home in Texas and to unite a church. The Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS) began its mission in Waxahachie during September 1960. The organization provides Christ-centered care and family support to children from birth to 17-years–old, as well as single mothers who have suffered from neglect, abuse, and abandonment, or children whose families are experiencing some type of family crisis or other issues which threaten family stability. Over the years, many members have served as mentors to the kids. The kids and home parents are an integral part of the church family, and the deep commitment to PCHAS continues today.

Location

402 N. College
Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas
32.38906, -96.84477

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Central Presbyterian Church

This page lists Central Presbyterian Church. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Central Presbyterian Church report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

House at 418 North College
Industrial
0.1 mi
Oldham Avenue Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
North Rogers Street Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
House at 111 Williams
Industrial
0.2 mi
Ferris School
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Central Presbyterian Church listed on the National Register?

Central Presbyterian Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 10, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Central Presbyterian Church?

Central Presbyterian Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Central Presbyterian Church?

The period of significance for Central Presbyterian Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Central Presbyterian Church?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Central Presbyterian Church will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ellis County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Ellis County.

Explore EllisCounty ›

More historic places in Texas

Browse all historic places in Texas.

View Texashistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Texas history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Texashistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Central Presbyterian Church will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report