Traveling in Texas on US Highway 82 from Paris to Lubbock you are likely to see more beef on the hoof than you will beef patties at the Dairy Queen. It’s mostly a string of small towns with a lot of rolling farmland in between.
You will notice the “skyline” of the tiny hamlet of Lindsay, Texas long before you get there. The town is dominated by the towering spire of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. On a recent jaunt, I made my husband stop to let me take pictures. I knew the church from the days long ago when I lived two blocks up the street.
Granted that viewing a church might be as “exciting” for some as watching underwear tumble in the dryer. But, this historic church is worth viewing if you are in that neck of the woods. It’s got some elaborate painting inside, and my pictures don’t do it justice.
In 1891, the brothers Anton and August Flusche bought a chunk of land near the railroad tracks and began selling it to German immigrants to establish the town of Lindsay. For those immigrants, life centered around family and The Church. The present church was built in 1919 to replace a previous structure that had been destroyed in a tornado.
I could look at the intricate stained glass windows for hours.
You probably won’t visit for long at the church, but it is more interesting on the inside than its exterior suggests. As you travel this route, be sure to head on to Muenster, Texas for some good German food (“good German food” is almost an oxymoron) at Rhomer’s Restaurant. It will be on the right side of the highway, and if you blink you will miss it.
As you travel the Texas Highways, remember that those small towns sometimes hold gems such as St. Peter’s Catholic Church. In order to find them, you have to slow down and look!
This is part of a series of posts about My Neck of The Woods — which encompasses just about all of Texas. If you’d like to post about your neck of the woods, please join me on Saturdays and leave a comment so folks can find out about your area.
Other posts you might enjoy:
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
If you take the time to travel on the “blue line highways”, you can find some remarkable treasures. That church is remarkable. For my neck of the woods, a little trip to Stonehenge (and you thought that was in England)
I’ll be by to see! We had a wedding Saturday, and it shot the day to heck & back!
As an ex-Catholic, I had the fear that God would smite me if I ever went into a Catholic church again. (Now I’m “Catholic Lite” – a.k.a. Episcopalian) However, I do appreciate “religion as art” and the Catholic church does it right!
Desert Divas last blog post..Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Indeed, they do it right. I’m not Catholic but was married to one, and I’ve always loved the pomp and pageantry of Catholic Mass. This church is almost garish at first glance, but it “grows on you.”
That is a seriously gorgeous church. It has the feeling more of a Greek Orthodox than a German Catholic though, Interesting. I of course, especially love all the yummy pagan imagery in Catholicism. Lookin’ pretty spiffy over here, girlfriend! Woot!
Thornes last blog post..Meals to Please a Hungry GirlyBoi
What a lovely church. And such wise words about slowing down and looking. So many people are in such a hurry, and overlook so much that is beautiful. But life and our days are filled with small joys and pleasures if we will slow down, look for them, and celebrate them.
That’s one of the many reasons I love hiking in the mountains — I find joy in discovering new-sprouting wildflowers or funky fungi I hadn’t noticed before!
Thomma Lyns last blog post..Water, Water Everywhere
I don’t have to tell a hiker like you to slow down! You already get the concept of enjoying the beauty along the path. I know that usually folks are in a hurry to get where they are going, but so many places need to be examined closely to find the loveliness they offer! Lindsay is one of those places
That is beautiful! Thanks for sharing!(-:
cindees last blog post..After The Rain
Love you new blog home. Those stained glass windows are captivating. Isn’t it amazing what we can miss when we are in a hurry.
Carol G.s last blog post..Happy Mother’s Day from my former neck of the woods
Thanks, Carol. It has a long way to go, but I’m liking my new Thesis theme.
Yep, what we miss when we are in a hurry is amazing, indeed.
The church is beautiful! You did find a hidden gem.
Love the new theme…I am on Thesis too. Luv it.
Sheila
Sheila Atwoods last blog post..The Finish Line – Only The Good Friday
I know you are! I have admired your theme for a long time. I may be comparing notes with you (what am I saying? I mean I may be asking for help!).
As for the church, my pictures don’t do it justice. The stained glass windows are a marvel.
For those planning to see the church any time soon, please be advised the church is now being restored and will not be completed in at least June or July 2010.
Along with this beautiful church are four small chapels, two are directly in front of the church on both sides of the parking lot and two are on the SW part of the cemetary. The chapels were built in 1913-1914 commisioned by then Pastor Bernard Zell. The chapels are reminiscent of chapels built in the German countryside for the laborers to pray and worship because of the great distances needed to travel to attend mass in the local church. Certain parish famalies paid to have the chapels built at the time and bear their names today. They are used every year in the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ procession in June. The chapels are maintained by the descendents of those families today and are a beautiful addition to the church and tradition of St Peter Parish.
Thanks for dropping by, Kenny! I think you are the Kenny that I know. I’m glad to see they are restoring the church. As you know, Jerry’s family belongs to one of those lovely chapels (or vice versa)
. I think I have some decent pictures of them, but it’s hard to get those through the glass. I’ll have to come see the church when it is fully restored.