Tuesday, December 29, 2020

History of Kimbro Free Church in Elgin, Texas explored.

Kimbro Free Church is one of the many forgotten churches of Travis County, “Manda, TX”, and Elgin. Only so much history about this church has been saved and documented. Kimbro Free Church was another name Kimbro Free Evangelical Church operated under.

Kimbro Free Church was established and constructed in 1887 in the settlement of Manda, Texas (Manda, TX). A parsonage was built along side this church.

The cemetery next to this church is called Kimbro Evangelical Free Church Cemetery aka Kimbro Free Evangelical Church Cemetery which is now known as Kimbro Cemetery. The cemetery dates back to the 1880s. Evangelical Free Church Cemeteries Association is responsible for the maintenance of the historic rural Kimbro Evangelical Free Church Cemetery. (Ref: https://www.elgincourier.com/article/news/cemetery-association-holds-annual-meeting)

Kimbro Free Church had a huge congregation and strong community support among the other  churches in the Elgin area and Manor area. Kimbro Free Church had as much support as Rose Hill Lutheran Church, Rose Hill Methodist Church, and Manda Methodist Church.

Rev. Alfred Stone wrote this greeting to the Kimbro Evangelical Free Church on the 50th anniversary of the church. Albert Smith served as musical director of the Kimbro Free Church and founded the Kimbro Orchestra. (Ref: Kimbro Evangelical Free Church 50th Anniversary booklet 1897 to 1947)

A decision was made on September 18, 1951 by the Kimbro Free Church to relocate to Austin where the Crestview Evangelical Free Church was. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/386460666/)

“The origin of the Crestview Evangelical Free Church goes back to 1897 when the Kimbro Free Church was organized in that rural community about twenty miles east of Austin. As a result of the move from country-to-city, so common throughout the land, a decision was made on September 18, 1951 by the Kimbro Free Church to relocate in Austin.”

Today Kimbro Free Church is now located at the address of 7500 Woodrow Avenue, Austin, Texas, US 78757.

No comments:

Post a Comment