One of the first questions I get from families moving to Fredericksburg is where to go to church. Faith has been part of this town since the German settlers arrived in 1846, and today you will find beautiful historic churches all over town. Our family's church home is St. Barnabas Episcopal, and I'm a doorkeeper there about once a month, so I'll start there. Then here is a look at other churches people ask me about.
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
601 W. Creek St. · stbarnabasfbg.org · 830-997-5762
St. Barnabas is where our family worships, and it feels like home every Sunday. Their tagline says it best: "Beloved is where we begin." It is warm, welcoming and full of families, and after church you will often find us at Vaudeville for their famous fried chicken.
The history here is so special. The little chapel on the property is the Peter Walter house, one of Fredericksburg's earliest homes, built as a log cabin and then a fachwerk (half-timbered) house in 1846. The parish formed in 1952, bought the house and restored it as a mission. There is even a Lady Bird Johnson connection: a stone from the church built over St. Barnabas's tomb in Cyprus was set into the south wall of the newer church, and President and Mrs. Johnson attended the cornerstone ceremony in 1964.
Sunday services are Holy Eucharist at 7:45, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., with nursery care during the 9:00 and 11:00. The 11:00 service is also livestreamed. There is a Wednesday evening service and a Thursday noon healing service.
For families: Mom's Morning Off for little ones, Godly Play for PreK through 5th grade, a youth group for 6th through 12th, a children's choir, acolytes, and Camp Barnabas in the summer. Adults have choirs, a bell choir, Bible studies, supper clubs, an arts guild and lots of outreach, including a community food box on West Creek Street.
Other Churches in Fredericksburg
- St. Mary's Catholic Church, W. San Antonio St. The original 1860s stone Marienkirche still stands beside the Gothic Revival church built in 1905–06, one of the famous painted churches of Texas.
- Zion Lutheran Church, W. Main St. Organized in the 1850s, it is the oldest Lutheran church in the Hill Country and a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
- Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, 113 E. San Antonio St. Its roots go back to the first Protestant services in 1846, and its tower holds an original Vereins Kirche bell.
- Bethany Lutheran Church, 110 W. Austin St. Organized in 1887.
- Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 N. Llano St.
- First Baptist Church, 1407 E. Main St.
- Memorial Presbyterian Church, 601 N. Milam St.
- Christ in the Hills (Global Methodist), 1109 S. Adams St.
- Bridge Church (non-denominational), 224 FM 2093.
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, 1201 N. Llano St.
And if you are on Main Street, don't miss the Vereins Kirche on Marktplatz. The original 1847 building was the town's first public building and served as a church for all faiths, a school and a town hall. Today's replica is a museum.
Service times change, so check each church's website before you visit.
Finding Your Church Home
Many of my clients visit a few churches their first few weekends in town. It is one of the fastest ways to meet people and feel like a local. If you are moving here, I'm always happy to share more about our church and the neighborhoods close to it. Please feel free to call anytime.
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