This community church is in west Texas, and it lives close to our heart. We met the leaders of this fun church when our firm was first coming into existence. We had an excellent rapport with the Pastor and his wife, and we were impressed with their vision for this project, “Texas Gothic.”
Their existing building was a humble, multi-purpose rectangle, just barely large enough for some of their church services. In the new Building Program, one request was to upgrade the existing building, consistent with the Texas Gothic Sanctuary. This would have required exorbitant costs that would take away from the needs of the Sanctuary project and blow the budget.
Our solution went in the opposite direction, so to speak. Rather than remodel, we obscured the existing building entirely with the new building, creating a 20-foot-wide courtyard between the two long structures. This simple move transformed a challenge into one of the church’s most beloved features, offering space for fellowship, receptions, outdoor classes, and community events.
The new sanctuary design draws from a composite of Gothic, Romanesque, and Queen Anne styles—resulting in what we all agreed could rightly be called “Texas Gothic.” Rough-hewn timber trusses and heavy wood detailing ground the space with authenticity. A stained-glass quatrefoil window behind the Chancel glows in view of both the congregation and passersby. A revival-style tower is rotated on a 45-degree axis to face each direction of highway traffic, standing as a kind of architectural invitation. And the glass-wrapped Victorian conservatory echoes the ornate forms and material richness of the Revival period, complete with cresting along the roof ridges and heavy stone exteriors.
The Pastor didn’t believe we could complete the project for the budget, which made it even more satisfying for us. The first couple and this high-energy congregation loved the whole project. When a congregation identifies and relates to its facilities, all the services and functions are enhanced and improved. In this case, they are presented in Texas Gothic fashion.
