A BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. PETER'S

Sailing vessels brought the lumber from Galveston to build St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Rockport. The edifice was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Alexander Gregg, Bishop of Texas, on November 30, 1871. The church was located near the train depot, and services came to a halt during the arrival and departure of trains.

During the hurricane of 1875, the church was destroyed and then rebuilt on the same site. It was demolished again in 1919. Since its second rebuilding, St. Peter's has been moved twice. The lumber, the windows, and the doors used in its original construction, have been preserved.

The church was moved to its present location in 1953.  In 1954, the Parish Hall was added.  Between 1954 and 1962, the church, parish hall, and grounds were improved.  The chancel and seating capacity were enlarged.

In the spring of 2001, the seating capacity, parish hall, and parking were expanded, and a new Sunday School building was erected.  In 2003, a  nine acre tract on Henderson Street was purchased for  future expansion.

For ninety-three years of its life, St. Peter's was a mission dependent for worship upon the bishop, clergy and lay readers living nearby and the community. In 1964, St. Peter's was admitted to parochial status by The Diocese of West Texas, which meant  its long infancy had ended, and the church was self-supporting and ready to stand on its own.

Following a period of service by The Rev. Harry Carter, who was a lay reader, The Rev. Harold Edmundson was called as the first rector. He was succeeded by The Rev. Lester Hill in 1968 who served until 1975 when The Rev. Walter D. Clark assumed duties of priest to the parish. The Rev. Maurice Lane Friedman succeeded Fr. Clark in 1997  and  served  until  the  summer  of 2002.   The Rev.  G. M. (Mac) Keeble was rector from 2004 until his retirement in 2007. Our interim rector is The Rev. Art Hadley.