Historical churches in Ellis County

Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Ovilla is said to be the first organized church in Ellis County.

It was chartered two years before the formation of Ellis County in July of 1847 with 20 members.

The minister that started the church was what was called a “pioneer area minister” and the story is that the first service was not under a roof, but instead a brush arbor. Later it was reported a cedar log tabernacle was built for church services.

In 1872 the actual frame structure of the church that still stands today was finished using lumber from Cherokee County in East Texas.

There have been a number of preachers who have called Shiloh Cumberland home including E.M. White, recognized for forming other churches in Ellis County and, the founding minister, Reverend King, who resided at the church until his death in 1859.

While the address of the church is on Shiloh Road in Midlothian, the location is in Ovilla.

In Rockett the Rockett Christian Church was founded in 1894. It was in 1853, that the first group of churchgoers met in an old “clapboard schoolhouse” located on Brushy Creek in Ellis County. At that time Rockett was known as Liberty and the small gathering met for the first time under the guidance of Reverend William Rawlins.

The land where the current church is located was bought for a mere $125 in August, 1900 eight miles outside of Waxahachie on Texas Farm Road 813. When the church was established the community had a grocery store, dry goods store, post office and cotton gin.

The actual church building for Rockett Christian Church was finished in 1901 with construction beginning in December 1900. The dedication service held in April, 1901 with the new building boasting gothic windows and a wooden floor.

In the 1930s renovations took place and the pulpit was moved to the other side of the church. Then, in the 1950s wallpaper was replaced by sheet rock and the wooden roof was replaced with composite shingles. There was also propane heating added and an air conditioner unit.

It was in the 1960s the church disbanded. In 1983 it was re-opened by descendants of the church’s original founders.

Today, the original wainscoting and windows are still intact and the original wood floor is still in place. If you look inside you will find two plugged holes that were used for draining the floor after it was cleaned and the chimney from the old fireplace still remains to remind visitors of the churches old history.

St. Thomas’ Episcopal Mission in Ennis was organized in 1875. The church was built in the 1930’s on the corner of Sherman and Tyler Streets. In December 1987, the church moved to 901 Park Street, and the first service held there was a wedding in May of 1988.

Another historic church in Ellis County is Grace Anglican Church in Waxahachie. Located on Monroe Street, it is said to be Waxahachie’s oldest church building, being built in 1877.

Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church rounds out my list of historic churches for this series. It is located on Monroe Street in Waxahachie, and was constructed in 1885 in Gothic Revival style. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.