Christianity in Houston

{{Short description|Most prevalent religion in the US city}}
[[File:St Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Galveston.jpg|thumb|[[St. Mary Cathedral Basilica (Galveston, Texas)|St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica]], see of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]]]
[[Christianity]] is the most widely practiced religion in the city of [[Houston, Texas]]. In 2012, Kate Shellnutt of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' described Houston as a "heavily Christian city".<ref>Shellnutt, Kate. "[http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2012/07/for-jeremy-lin-houston-church-hunting-advice/ For Jeremy Lin: Houston church-hunting advice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427210544/http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2012/07/for-jeremy-lin-houston-church-hunting-advice/ |date=2014-04-27 }}" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. July 19, 2012. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> Multiple Christian denominations originating from various countries are practiced in the city; among its Christian population, the majority are either Catholic, Baptist, or non/inter-denominational.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Maps and data files for 2020 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/index.php/node/1639 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=U.S. Religion Census}}</ref>

[[Lakewood Church]] in Houston is the largest church in the United States. In 2010, it had 44,800 weekly attendees, while in 2000, it had 11,000 weekly attendees. In September 2010{{Update inline|date=November 2021}}, ''[[Outreach Magazine]]'' published a list of the 100 largest Christian churches in the United States, and inside the list were the following Houston-area churches: Lakewood, [[Second Baptist Church Houston]], Woodlands Church, Church Without Walls and First Baptist Church. According to the list, Houston and Dallas were tied as the second most popular city for megachurches.<ref>Shellnutt, Kate. "[http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/03/megachurches-getting-bigger-lakewood-quadruples-in-size-since-2000/ Megachurches getting bigger; Lakewood quadruples in size since 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503030342/http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/03/megachurches-getting-bigger-lakewood-quadruples-in-size-since-2000/ |date=2014-05-03 }}" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. March 21, 2011. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

==Catholicism==

===Roman Catholics===
[[File:CoCathedralsoutheastHoustonTexas.JPG|thumb|The [[Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Houston)|Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral]] in [[Downtown Houston]]]]
The city's Roman Catholic diocese is the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]. The chancery of the archdiocese is located in [[Downtown Houston]].<ref>"[http://www.archgh.org/form/ContactUs.asp?id=10 Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702142037/http://www.archgh.org/form/ContactUs.asp?id=10 |date=2014-07-02 }}." Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Retrieved on February 27, 2011. "1700 San Jacinto Houston, TX 77002."</ref> The archdiocese's original [[cathedral church]] is [[St. Mary Cathedral Basilica (Galveston, Texas)|St. Mary Cathedral Basilica]] in [[Galveston]] with a [[co-cathedral]], the [[Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart]], located in Downtown Houston.<ref name="Archdiocese Cathedral History">[http://www.archgh.org/cocathedral/cathedral-history.htm Archdiocese Cathedral History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125042116/http://www.archgh.org/cocathedral/cathedral-history.htm |date=January 25, 2007 }}</ref>

The first Catholic church in Houston, St. Vincent's Church, opened in 1839.<ref>Carroll, Jill. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Family-history-tied-to-church-s-project-3583872.php Family, history tied to church's project]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. May 24, 2012. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> John Odin, a bishop arrived in 1841 to help establish it, and in the fall of 1842 the building, in the [[Second Ward, Houston|Second Ward]], was fully built. This church converted into a parish catering to [[German Americans]] in 1871 when the larger Annunciation Church opened.<ref>McWhorter, Thomas. "[https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/vol-8-no-1-Second-Ward.pdf From Das Zweiter to El Segundo, A Brief History of Houston’s Second Ward]." ''[[Houston History Magazine]]''. Volume 8, No. 1, p. 39. Retrieved on April 21, 2019.</ref>

The city's first black Catholic church was St. Nicholas, located in the [[Third Ward, Houston|Third Ward]].<ref name="Steptoep195">Steptoe, Tyina Leaneice ([[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]). ''Dixie West: Race, Migration, and the Color Lines in Jim Crow Houston'' (PhD thesis for a history degree). [[ProQuest]], 2008. {{ISBN|0549635874}}, 9780549635871. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0a2CFNeOh4UC&pg=PA195 195].</ref>
[[File:HoustonOLGChurch.JPG|thumb|left|[[Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Houston)|Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church]] in the [[Second Ward, Houston|Second Ward]]]]
In 1910 there were no Mexican Catholic churches in Houston. Some Mexicans were excluded from attending English-speaking Catholic churches. Mexicans who did attend found themselves discriminated against.<ref name="Trevino32">Treviño, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=OxsfuWARmCQC&dq=%22In+1910+Houston%27s+Mexican+Catholics%22&pg=PA32 32].</ref> In 1911 the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston]] brought the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a series of priests intended to minister to the Mexican population of Houston.<ref name="Trevino09">Treviño, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=6tNaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22The+years+1911-72%22 9].</ref> In 1912 [[Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Houston)|Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church]], the first Mexican Catholic church, opened.<ref name="Trevino32" /> Due to an increase in demand in Catholic services, oblates established missions in various Mexican-American neighborhoods.<ref name="GarzaNatalie17">Garza, Natalie, p. 17.</ref> The Roman Catholic Church established Our Lady of Guadalupe so that white people accustomed to segregation of races would not be offended by the presence of Mexican people in their churches.<ref name="GarzaNatalie15">Garza, Natalie, p. 15.</ref> The second Mexican Catholic church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, opened in the 1920s.<ref name="Esparza3">Esparza, p. 3.</ref> It originated as an oblate mission in [[Magnolia Park, Houston|Magnolia Park]], on the second floor of the residence of Emilio Aranda. A permanent two-story building, funded by the community, opened in 1926.<ref name="GarzaNatalie17" />
[[File:OurMotherofMercyChurchHouston.JPG|thumb|[[Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church]] in the [[Fifth Ward, Houston|Fifth Ward]]]]
In the 1920s, a group of [[Louisiana Creole people]] attended the Hispanic [[Our Lady of Guadalupe Church (Houston)|Our Lady of Guadalupe Church]] because OLG was the closest church to the Frenchtown area of the Fifth Ward.<ref name="Steptoep195" /> Because the OLG church treated the Creole people in a discriminatory manner, by forcing them to confess and take communion after people of other races did so and after forcing them to take the back pews,<ref name="Steptoep195196">Steptoe, Tyina Leaneice ([[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]). ''Dixie West: Race, Migration, and the Color Lines in Jim Crow Houston'' (PhD thesis for a history degree). [[ProQuest]], 2008. {{ISBN|0549635874}}, 9780549635871. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0a2CFNeOh4UC&pg=PA195 195]-[https://books.google.com/books?id=0a2CFNeOh4UC&pg=PA196 196].</ref> the Creoles opted to build their own church.<ref name="Steptoep196">Steptoe, Tyina Leaneice ([[University of Wisconsin-Madison]]). ''Dixie West: Race, Migration, and the Color Lines in Jim Crow Houston'' (PhD thesis for a history degree). [[ProQuest]], 2008. {{ISBN|0549635874}}, 9780549635871. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=0a2CFNeOh4UC&pg=PA196 196].</ref> The [[Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church]] in the Fifth Ward, Houston's second black Catholic church, was officially founded in June 1929.<ref name="CathYouthp76">Catholic Youth Organization, Diocese of Galveston. Houston District. ''Centennial: The Story of the Kingdom of God on Earth in that Portion of the Vineyard which for One Hundred Years Has Been the Diocese of Galveston''. Catholic Youth Organization, Centennial Book Committee, 1947. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=wG5aAAAAMAAJ&q=Our+Mother+of+Mercy 76]. "Our Mother of Mercy Church, the second Negro parish to be established in Houston, was founded in June, 1929. Bishop Christopher E. Byrne purchased two city blocks, on Sumpter Street, and ground was[...]" ("Negro" is an outdated term for African-American).</ref>

The number of African-American Catholics in Houston increased after the [[Great Mississippi Flood of 1927]] affected rural areas in the [[Southern United States]].<ref>Pruitt, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-YSzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 114].</ref> Most of them moved to the [[Fifth Ward, Houston|Fifth Ward]].<ref>Pruitt, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-YSzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA114 114]-[https://books.google.com/books?id=-YSzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA115 115].</ref> Due to a perception of the Catholic Church being more favorable than Protestant churches to African-Americans, the Catholic Church in Houston increased in popularity with African-Americans in the 1930s.<ref name="Pruittp116">Pruitt, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-YSzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA116 116].</ref> St. Anne de Beaupre in [[Sunset Heights, Houston|Sunset Heights]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Harris County Assessor's Block Book|volume=35|page=110}} - [https://books.tax.hctx.net/v035/AE1997_35-36_0113.jpg JPG] - Church location indicated.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archgh.org/parishes/st-anne-de-beaupre-houston/|title=St. Anne de Beaupre|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]|access-date=2020-06-09|quote=St. Anne de Beaupre Houston, TX 2810 Link Rd Houston, Texas 77009}}</ref> the third black Catholic church, named after the [[Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré]] in [[Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré]], Quebec, Canada, opened in 1938.<ref name="SteptoeHoustonBoundp117">Steptoe, Tyina L. ''Houston Bound: Culture and Color in a Jim Crow City'' (Volume 41 of American Crossroads). [[University of California Press]], November 3, 2015. {{ISBN|0520958535}}, 9780520958531. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=30-bCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA117 117].</ref> By 2012 the church held Swahili masses due to it gaining African immigrant parishioners.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rogan, Catherine|url=https://www.archgh.org/news-data/texas-catholic-herald/historic-st-nicholas-turns-125/|title=Historic St. Nicholas turns 125|newspaper=[[Texas Catholic Herald]]|publisher=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston]]|date=2012-12-11|access-date=2020-06-02}}</ref> In particular St. Nicholas has a group of Cameroonians in the congregation served by the Assumption Cameroonian Catholic Community, so it has services each month tailored to that group.<ref>{{cite book|author=Takougang, Joseph|title=Cameroonian Immigrants in the United States: Between the Homeland and the Diaspora|publisher=[[Lexington Books]]|date=2014-03-06|isbn=<!--Old: 0739186949-->9780739186947|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=QpYXAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75 75]}}</ref>
[[File:St. Andrew Kim Church - Houston, Texas.jpg|thumb|St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church ({{lang-ko|휴스턴한인천주교회}}) in [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]]]]
In 1972 the Catholic church leaders and lay Hispanics in Houston participated in the ''Encuentro Hispano de Pastoral'' ("Pastoral Congress for the Spanish-speaking"). Robert R. Treviño, author of ''[[The Church in the Barrio: Mexican American Ethno-Catholicism in Houston]]'', said that the event "stands as a watershed in the religious history of Mexican American Catholics in Houston".<ref name="Trevino09" /> Treviño also said that Mexican-American Catholics "competed for cultural space not only with the Anglo majority, which included various groups of white Catholics, but also with a large black population and a Mexican protestant presence as well."<ref>Treviño, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=OxsfuWARmCQC&dq=%22Mexican+Catholics+competed+for+cultural%22&pg=PA10 10].</ref> St. Faustina Catholic Church, popular with Greater Katy's Venezuelan population, is in proximity to Cinco Ranch. It previously held its services at Joe Hubenak Elementary School, but in 2017 it moved into its own 1,600-seat building. It has worship services in Spanish.<ref name="HerreraKatyZuela">{{cite news|author=Herrera, Sebastian|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/In-Houston-s-Katy-suburb-a-Venezuelan-population-11028051.php|title=In Houston's Katy suburb, a Venezuelan population thrives|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2017-03-25|access-date=2018-07-11}}</ref>

The first wave of Vietnamese immigrants to Houston, occurring after the end of the [[Vietnam War]], was mostly Catholic.<ref name="Klinebergp39">Klineberg, Stephen L. and Jie Wu. "[http://kinder.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Center_for_the_Study_of_Houston/Kinder%20Institute%20Houston%20Area%20Asian%20Survey.pdf DIVERSITY AND TRANSFORMATION AMONG ASIANS IN HOUSTON: Findings from the Kinder Institute’s Houston Area Asian Survey (1995, 2002, 2011)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126220304/http://kinder.rice.edu/uploadedFiles/Center_for_the_Study_of_Houston/Kinder%20Institute%20Houston%20Area%20Asian%20Survey.pdf|date=2013-11-26}}" (). [[Kinder Institute for Urban Research]], [[Rice University]]. February 2013. - Cited: p. 39.</ref> In 1999 the Houston area had about 40,000 Filipino Catholics, about 30,000 ethnic Vietnamese Catholics, 350 Chinese Catholic families, over 1,000 Korean Catholics, and about 500 Indian Catholics.<ref name="Varatogether">Vara, Richard. "Area Asian Catholics to come together in celebration." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. August 21, 1999. Religion p. 1. [[NewsBank]] Record: 3159522. Available from the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' [http://houstonpubliclibrary.org/newspapers website's newspaper databases], accessible with a library card and PIN.</ref> Vietnamese Catholic churches in the Houston area as of 2008 include Christ Incarnate Word Parish ({{lang-vi|Giáo Xứ Đức Kito Ngôi Lời Nhập Thể}}<!--Vietnamese name from: http://www.giaoxungoiloi.org/li-n-l-c--contact-.html-->), Holy Rosary Parish, Our Lady of Lavang (Giáo Xứ Đức Mẹ Lavang<!--http://lavangchurch.org/-->), Our Lady of Lourdes, and Vietnamese Martyrs (Giáo Xứ Các Thánh Tử Đạo Việt Nam<!--http://gxcttdvn.org/-->).<ref name="Latson">Latson, Jennifer. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Mass-honors-those-lost-in-Sherman-bus-crash-1602188.php Mass honors those lost in Sherman bus crash]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. September 8, 2008. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.</ref> In 1999 there were four Vietnamese Catholic churches and five other churches with large numbers of Vietnamese people. In 1988 the Chinese Catholic church, Ascension Chinese Mission (美華天主堂)<!--http://www.ascensionchinesemission.org/-->, opened. The Korean Catholic church, St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church ({{lang-ko|휴스턴한인천주교회}}), named after [[Andrew Kim Taegon]], is in [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]]. There were no particular Filipino and Indian Catholic churches.<!--Implied by: "Filipino Catholics, estimated at 40,000, and about 500 Indian Catholic families worship at several parishes."--><ref name="Varatogether" /> On August 8, 2008, [[Sherman, Texas bus accident|a bus with Vietnamese Catholics from the Houston area was traveling to a Missouri festival to honor the Virgin Mary and crashed]] near [[Sherman, Texas|Sherman]] in [[North Texas]]. 17 people died.<ref name="Latson" />

The city has a [[Polish American]] church, Our Lady of Czestochowa Roman Catholic Parish in [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]], established in the 1980s. At the time Polish immigrants who resisted Communist rule in that country arrived in Houston.<ref>{{cite web|author=Orozco, Yvette|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Polish-American-community-celebrates-traditions-13819790.php|title=Polish-American community celebrates traditions at festival|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2019-05-04|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref>

===Maronite Catholics===
As of 2008 Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Catholic Church has been Houston's only [[Maronite Church]]. That year, Christine Dow, a spokesperson for the church, stated that there were about 500 families who were members, and that the community, since the 1990s, had increased.<ref>Murphy, Bill. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Maronite-cardinal-tells-of-threat-to-Lebanon-1777321.php Maronite cardinal tells of threat to Lebanon]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. May 20, 2008. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> Richard Vara of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' wrote that in 1991 there had "only a handful of registered families" in the Houston Maronite church.<ref>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Maronite-cardinal-visits-Houston-1662551.php Maronite cardinal visits Houston]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. May 23, 2008. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

==Protestantism==
===Anglicans and Episcopalians===
[[File:Christ Church Downtown Houston (HDR).jpg|thumb|[[Christ Church Cathedral (Houston)|Christ Church Cathedral]], see of the [[Episcopal Diocese of Texas]]]]
The Anglican-Episcopalian tradition is served by a multitude of communities affiliated with the [[Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America]], and the [[Anglican Church in North America]]. Among them, the [[Episcopal Diocese of Texas]] within the Episcopal Church is the oldest Anglican or Episcopalian jurisdiction for the area. Within the Anglican Church in North America, several parish churches of Greater Houston are part of the [[Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dwgc.org/churches/ | title=Our Churches | publisher=Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast | access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>

Anglicans within The [[Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast]] of the [[Anglican Church in North America]] includes a number of parishes in metropolitan Houston.

===Baptists===
[[File:Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Downtown Houston (HDR).jpg|thumb|[[Antioch Missionary Baptist Church]]]]
Baptists are spread throughout numerous denominations for Greater Houston. Numbering 926,554 adherents as of 2020,<ref name=":0" /> the largest Baptist denominations operating in the city and metropolitan area are the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] through its [[Southern Baptists of Texas Convention]] and [[Baptist General Convention of Texas]]; the [[American Baptist Association]], [[American Baptist Churches USA]], [[Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship]]; [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptist Convention USA]] and [[National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.|National Baptist Convention of America]]; and the [[National Missionary Baptist Convention of America|National Missionary Baptist Convention]].

The oldest predominantly African American Baptist church in Houston is the [[Antioch Missionary Baptist Church]], historically a part of the [[Fourth Ward, Houston|Fourth Ward]] and now in [[Downtown Houston]].<ref name="Davis">Davis, Rod. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FCBCB6042BB9F95&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city.]" ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]''. Sunday August 3, 2003. Travel 1M. Retrieved on February 11, 2012.</ref> [[Jack Yates]] once served as the pastor of this church.<ref name="YatesHandbook">"[https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fya07 YATES, JOHN HENRY]." ''[[Handbook of Texas Online]]''.</ref> Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, a black church, was originally established in the Fourth Ward in 1872 but moved to the [[Third Ward, Houston|Third Ward]] in 1981. In 2002 it had 1,500 members. Lonnie Smith was a leader in the congregation and filed the [[Smith v. Allwright]] case along with the church's pastor, A.A. Lucas, in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite news|author=Zuniga, Jo Ann|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/After-130-years-Good-Hope-still-looks-ahead-2086683.php|title=After 130 years, Good Hope still looks ahead|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2002-03-24|access-date=2018-04-29}}</ref>

As of 2012 [[Second Baptist Church Houston]], led by [[Homer Edwin Young|Homer Edwin "Ed" Young]], is the largest [[Baptist church]] in the U.S.<ref>"[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Second-Baptist-introduces-new-Spanish-service-3465226.php Second Baptist will launch Spanish service on Easter]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. April 6, 2012. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

===Lutherans===
The [[Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod]] of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] serves Houston. Houston is also within the [[Texas District (LCMS)|Texas District]] of the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]]. In 2001 Reverend Gerald B. Kieschnick, a native of Houston, began his role as the leader of the Missouri Synod Lutherans in the United States. In 2010 he lost his reelection bid. The 2010 election took place in [[Downtown Houston]], at the triennial convention.<ref>Shellnut, Kate. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-president-to-lead-Missouri-Synod-Lutherans-1585504.php New president to lead Missouri Synod Lutherans]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. July 15, 2010. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

===Methodists===
[[File:TexasAnnualConfUnitMethChurch.JPG|thumb|Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church]]Houston lies within the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, which covers east and southeast Texas,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.txcumc.org/aboutus|title=About Us|website=www.txcumc.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref> although the [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]] and other Methodist denominations also maintain a significant presence within the area.<ref name=":0" />

As of 2001 [[Windsor Village United Methodist Church]] is the largest [[Methodist church]] in the U.S.<ref name="Victorialargest">"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=87VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PoEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6953,2904745&dq=windsor-village-united-methodist-church&hl=en Houston has largest Methodist church]." ''[[Associated Press]]'' at ''[[The Victoria Advocate]]''. Saturday March 10, 2001. 4D. Retrieved from [[Google News]] (25 of 27) on October 16, 2012.</ref>

===Non/inter-denominationals===
[[File:Lakewood church.jpg|thumb|[[Lakewood Church]]]]
Non/inter-denominational Christians are served by hundreds of churches, some formerly affiliated with denominational synods and conventions. [[Lakewood Church]] began Baptist, but now identifies as non denominational. Woodlands Church is also non-denominational.

{{Asof|2008}} the oldest ethnic Korean church is the Korean Christian Church of Houston. In September 2007 Chul Chung, the senior pastor, returned to South Korea after he resigned. In 2008 there was discord among factions in the church and around 100 people were expelled from the church. The members who were suspended or expelled instead attended services at the Korean Senior Center.<ref name=WiseKoreanchurch>{{cite web|author=Wise, Lindsay|url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Power-struggle-leaves-Houston-Korean-church-in-1644743.php|title=Power struggle leaves Houston Korean church in turmoil|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2008-05-12|access-date=2019-10-17}}</ref>

===Presbyterians===
The [[Synod of the Sun]] of the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)|Presbyterian Church USA]] serves Houston. The denomination's flagship [[First Presbyterian Church (Houston, Texas)|First Presbyterian Church]] is a conservative congregation that disaffiliated from the larger body in 2016 and affiliated with [[ECO (denomination)|ECO]]. The [[Presbyterian Church in America]] also has their own Houston Metro Presbytery, including the congregation of Christ the King Presbyterian Church in east [[Spring Branch, Houston|Spring Branch]]. Other Presbyterian denominations in Houston include the [[Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States)|EPC]], [[Orthodox Presbyterian Church|OPC]], and, more recently,  [[ECO (denomination)|ECO]].

Houston's three largest Presbyterian churches, [[Grace Presbyterian]], [[Memorial Drive Presbyterian]], and [[First Presbyterian Church (Houston, Texas)|First Presbyterian Church]] are now members of [[ECO (denomination)|ECO]].

On December 25, 2001, the Korean Community Church in [[The Woodlands, Texas|The Woodlands]], with Presbyterian Korean-language services and non-denominational English services, opened. It opened to serve ethnic Koreans in The Woodlands, [[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]], [[Huntsville, Texas|Huntsville]], [[Kingwood, Houston|Kingwood]], and [[Spring, Texas|Spring]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Durham, Erika E.|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Korean-church-opens-in-Woodlands-9751513.php|title=Korean church opens in Woodlands|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2003-03-13|access-date=2019-10-17}}</ref>

==The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints==
[[File:The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Houston, Texas.JPG|thumb|LDS church in northwest Houston]]
By 1918 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as The Church of Jesus Christ), then commonly known as "Mormons", arrived in Houston. In 1921, the first formal congregation was established, and in 1933 the first meetinghouse was dedicated.<ref name=Barden-Smithdiversity>{{cite news|author=Barden-Smith, St. John|url=https://www.chron.com/local/history/culture-scene/article/Temples-of-the-gods-Houston-s-religious-10098734.php|title=Temples of the gods: Houston's religious diversity reflects community|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2016-10-23|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref> The first meetinghouse built in Houston by the Church of Jesus Christ was built on Calumet Street at San Jacinto in Midtown Houston in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Deco {{!}} 1940s {{!}} Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints |url=http://www.houstondeco.org/1940s/lds.html |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=www.houstondeco.org}}</ref> It is no longer owned by the Church. The Houston area was originally part of the Texas-Louisiana Mission of the Church.

Today, there are 22 [[Stake (Latter Day Saints)|Stakes]] of the Church of Jesus Christ that serve the [[Houston|Houston, Texas]] area. Stakes are geographical groupings of congregations comparable to, but smaller than, Catholic dioceses and typically include 6-12 congregations called "wards" or "branches", which meet in multi-congregational meetinghouses or chapels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Houston Texas Temple District {{!}} ChurchofJesusChristTemples.org |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/houston-texas-temple/district/ |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>

The Church of Jesus Christ in Houston includes congregations that speak English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and ASL. There are also congregations designated for single college-age adults (Young Single Adult) and for inmates (Correctional). One [[Temple (Latter Day Saints)|Temple]], the [[Houston Texas Temple|Houston, Texas Temple]], lies outside the Houston area in unincorporated Harris County (with a [[Spring, Texas|Spring]] address), and serves the stakes in the area. It is the second temple built in Texas after the [[Dallas Texas Temple|Dallas, Texas Temple]], and one of the four currently operating in Texas today. It was dedicated on August 26, 2000, by President [[Gordon B. Hinckley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/houston-texas-temple/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-04-01 }}</ref> There are three missions of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Houston area: the Texas Houston Mission, the Texas Houston East Mission, and the Texas Houston South Mission.<ref>{{Citation |title=List of missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |date=2022-09-03 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_missions_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints&oldid=1108217349 |work=Wikipedia |language=en |access-date=2022-09-07}}</ref>

In 2011 Kate Shellnut of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' stated that the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Church of Jesus Christ]] was increasing in size in the Houston area.<ref name="ShellnutLDSnow">Shellnut, Kate. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/LDS-opening-new-meetinghouse-for-growing-1357226.php LDS opening new meetinghouse for growing congregation]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. April 28, 2011. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> On Saturday April 30, 2011<!--April 28 is a Thursday--> a new meeting house located on a {{convert|7|acre|ha|adj=on}} site in [[Sienna Plantation]], was scheduled to open. The facility was scheduled to serve a 200-member English-speaking ward and a 200-member Spanish-speaking ward. Prior to the church's opening, Sienna Plantation-area church members attended congregations in the [[Sharpstown]] area of Houston and in [[Sugar Land, Texas|Sugar Land]].<ref name="ShellnutLDSnow" />

{{Asof|2016}}, according to Church records, there were about 50,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Houston area.<ref name="Barden-Smithdiversity" />

In 2018 church member Sam Young, from Sugar Land, advocated against bishops meeting one-on-one with children and asking them questions about sexual activity (the law of chastity). In response, an excommunication hearing for him was set up. Young stated that "Protecting children is more important than my membership in the church. I’m not going to shut up. That would be immoral on my part."<ref>{{cite news|author=Ketterer, Samantha|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/houston-belief/article/Sugar-Land-Mormon-faces-excommunication-for-13210616.php|title=Sugar Land Mormon faces excommunication for criticism of church|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2018-09-08|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref> He was excommunicated in September 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gardiner, Jenn|author2=Rosie Nguyen|url=https://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/former-lds-bishop-sam-young-officially-ex-communicated/1450703158|title=Former LDS bishop Sam Young officially ex-communicated|publisher=Good4Utah (Channel 4)|date=2018-09-16|access-date=2018-09-17}}</ref>

==Orthodoxy==
[[File:AnnuncationGreekOrthodoxHouston.JPG|thumb|[[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Houston)|Annunciation Orthodox Church]] in [[Montrose, Houston]]]]
As of 2011 Eastern Orthodox churches in Houston are having growing memberships. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and other countries have added to Houston's Orthodox population. As of 2011 in the entire State of Texas there were 32,000 people who actively attend Orthodox churches.<ref>Kever, Jeannie. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-converts-flocking-to-ancient-church-in-Houston-1611237.php New converts flocking to ancient church in Houston]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. January 9, 2011. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> In 2013 Father John Whiteford, the pastor of St. Jonah Orthodox Church near [[Spring, Texas|Spring]], stated that there were about 6,000-9,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians in Houston.<ref name=ChitwoodOrthfabric>"[http://blog.chron.com/sacredduty/2013/07/orthodox-christians-part-of-diverse-fabric-of-houston-faith/#14283101=0 Orthodox Christians part of diverse fabric of Houston faith]" (). July 23, 2013. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

As of 2013, the largest Orthodox congregations are [[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Houston)|Annunciation Cathedral Greek]] and St. George Antiochian. Orthodox parishes hold festivals such as the Greek Festival. Former District Attorney of Harris County [[Pat Lykos]] and the members of the Pappas family, operating [[Pappas Restaurants]], are Greek Orthodox.<ref name=ChitwoodOrthfabric/>

In 1861 the first Orthodox church in the Houston area, named after Saints [[Constantine I|Constantine]] and [[Helena (empress)|Helen]], was in Galveston. The worshippers were in [[Galveston]] and, after 1911, in [[Houston]], with the latter using the [[Galveston-Houston Inter-Urban Train]]. The priest, Father Theoclitos Triantafilides, was sent by [[Tsar of Russia|Tsar]] [[Nicholas II of Russia]]. Nicholas II also sent funds to the church. Whiteford stated that those in Houston took the train to Galveston to attend services. Immigrants founded Orthodox congregations in [[Southeast Texas]] from 1908 to the turn of the 20th century. Immigrants came from the Arab world, Greece, Romania, Russia, Syria, and [[Antakya]] in [[Turkey]].<ref name=ChitwoodOrthfabric/>

===Armenians===
{{see also|Armenian American}}
[[File:St. Kevork Armenian Church, Hyuston.jpg|thumb|St. Kevork Armenian Church]]
St. Kevork Armenian Church, which was established around <!--2007-25=1982-->1982, serves as the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] facility in Houston. {{Asof|2007}} about 10% of the estimated 4,000-5,000 ethnic Armenians in Houston are active in this church.<ref>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Head-of-Armenian-Apostolic-Church-visiting-Houston-1672534.php  Head of Armenian Apostolic Church visiting Houston]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Saturday October 20, 2007. Retrieved on April 27, 2016.</ref>

===Coptics===
{{see also|Coptic American|Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States}}
[[File:StMarkCopticOrthodoxChurchBellaireTX0.JPG|thumb|St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, [[Bellaire, Texas|Bellaire]]]]

Houston is within the [[Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States]].

As of 2004, there were three [[Coptic Orthodox]] churches in Houston: St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church<!--It isn't named by the source, but the Coptic Church in Bellaire *is* St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church--> in [[Bellaire, Texas|Bellaire]], the St. Mary and Archangel Michael Church in northwest [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]], and the Archangel Raphael Coptic Orthodox Church in [[Clear Lake City]]. The St. Mary and Archangel Michael church began church services on July 25, 2004, had 200 families in August of that year, and had a cost of $2.5 million.<ref name=Varanewhome>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-home-is-miracle-for-Coptic-Christians-1523955.php New home is 'miracle' for Coptic Christians]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. August 21, 2004. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> The St. Mary and Archangel Michael church is the largest Copt church in the Houston area.<ref name=KatzGregory>Katz, Gregory. "[http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Egyptian-Coptic-Christians-find-bright-future-in-1549976.php Egyptian Coptic Christians find bright future in Houston]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. December 6, 2006. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

In the late 1960s there were far fewer Coptic families. Every month, a priest from [[Los Angeles]] flew to Houston and started a mass in a borrowed Orthodox church or in a private house.<ref name=Varanewhome/> From 1968 to 2006 over 600 Copt families moved to Houston. Due to [[Persecution of Copts|sectarian strife against Copts within Egypt]], by 2006 the membership of Copt churches in Houston was growing.<ref name=KatzGregory/>

In 2006 Gregory Katz of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' stated that partly because many Copt church leaders are accustomed to anti-Copt attitudes in Egypt, those who come to Houston are not accustomed to speaking freely about their religious beliefs and therefore "do not mingle easily with the rest of the large Christian community in the Houston area".<ref name=KatzGregory/>

After the [[2011 Alexandria bombing]], Houston Coptic churches cancelled their [[Coptic Christmas#Date of Christmas|Coptic Christmas]] services.<ref>Shellnutt, Kate. "[http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/01/coptic-christians-in-houston-cancel-christmas-services/ Coptic Christians in Houston cancel Christmas services]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. January 6, 2011. Retrieved on May 25, 2014.</ref>

===Ethiopians===
[[File:EthiopianchurchHoustoncanemont.JPG|thumb|Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church in [[Fondren Southwest]]]]
Houston's [[Ethiopian Orthodox]] church is the Debre Selam Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church ({{lang-am|ደብረ ሰላም መድኃኔዓለም የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተ ክርስቲያን}} ''Debre Selam MedhaneAlem YeItyopphya Ortodoks Tewahedo Bete Kristiyan''; the name approximately means "Sanctuary of Peace and the Savior") in [[Fondren Southwest]].<ref name=VaraEthiop>Vara, Richard. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Ethiopian-believers-find-strength-in-Orthodox-2101478.php Ethiopian believers find strength in Orthodox church]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. February 15, 2003. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.</ref>

Prior to the construction of the church, those of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith worshiped at Coptic Orthodox churches. Mesfin Genanaw, a [[Houston Community College]] teacher who was one of the individuals who assisted with the building of the church, stated that in 1992 20 Ethiopian women who were attending a Coptic church planned the establishment of an Ethiopian church. In 1993 the group purchased a {{convert|2.5|acre|ha|adj=on}} site and a tent, and conducted church services in a tent. After fundraisers were held, in 1995 construction of the permanent church started, and the church later obtained an additional {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land. Genanaw stated in a 2003 ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' article that there are an estimated 5,000 Ethiopians in Greater Houston.<ref name=VaraEthiop/>

===Greeks===
Houston is within the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver|Metropolis of Denver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denver.goarch.org/parishes|title=Parishes|publisher=[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver|Metropolis of Denver]]|accessdate=2022-02-01|quote=Annunciation Cathedral 3511 Yoakum Blvd. Houston, TX 77006}}</ref>

===Malankara Syrians===
The [[Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America]] is headquartered in [[Fort Bend County, Texas]], near [[Beasley, Texas|Beasley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ds-wa.org/|
title=Home|publisher=[[Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America]]|accessdate=2022-02-01|quote=Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church,Diocese of South-West America, 3101 Hopkins Rd Beasley, TX 77417}}</ref>

===Russians===
As of 2010 St. Jonah Orthodox Church, located in an [[unincorporated area]] in [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]] with a [[Spring, Texas|Spring]] address, is the sole Anglophone Russian Orthodox church in the Houston area. The church began holding services in 1998. John Whiteford was the deacon and provided lay services. In 2001 Whiteford was ordained as an Orthodox priest and he became a reverend. Whiteford estimated that the church purchased its current property in 2006 and he stated that in order to purchase the construction of the new building, the church paid in cash. The ceremony to celebrate the completion of its current building was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday October 23–24, 2010. As of 2010 about 90 people attend this church.<ref name=MeeksRussian>Meeks, Flori. "[http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/spring-news/article/Russian-Orthodox-parish-to-celebrate-new-church-1694266.php Russian Orthodox parish to celebrate new church]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. October 14, 2014. Retrieved on May 5, 2014.</ref>

Another church, St. Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church, holds services in [[Church Slavonic language|Slavonic]].<ref name=MeeksRussian/>

==Indian==
In 2021, Fort Bend County had about 24 [[India]]n churches.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bauman|first=Anna|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Asian-Americans-fastest-growing-Fort-Bend-Houston-16486256.php|title=Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in Houston's suburbs. Here's why.|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2021-09-26|accessdate=2021-11-19}}</ref>

==LGBT churches==
{{see also|LGBT culture in Houston}}
[[File:Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church.jpg|thumb|Resurrection [[Metropolitan Community Church]]]]
Some Christian churches accept members of the [[LGBT]] community.<ref name=ShellnutGayDivKid>Shelnutt, Kate. "[http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/01/gay-christian-community-in-houston-diverse-kid-friendly-and-working-for-justice/ Gay Christian community in Houston: Diverse, kid-friendly and working for justice]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. January 28, 2011. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> In 2008 Reverend Dwayne Johnson, the pastor of the Resurrection [[Metropolitan Community Church]],<ref name=KarkabiGay>Karkabi, Barbara. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Grace-Evangelical-Lutheran-welcomes-gay-pastor-1766376.php Grace Evangelical Lutheran welcomes gay pastor]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. August 29, 2008. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref> a church in [[Timbergrove Manor, Houston|Timbergrove Manor]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Zuvanich|first=Adam|url=https://www.theleadernews.com/community/community-mourns-death-of-progressive-pastor/article_b28d8b98-3063-5333-8e38-5b108f0e6a4a.html|title=
Community mourns death of progressive pastor|newspaper=[[The Leader (Houston)|The Leader]]|date=2020-07-22|accessdate=2023-04-05}}</ref> near the [[Houston Heights]],<ref name=ShellnutGayDivKid/> stated that there were about 15-20 openly gay Christian clergy members in Houston.<ref name=KarkabiGay/>

Resurrection Metropolitan's main service group is the LGBT community.<ref name=KarkabiGay/> In 1980 the pastor was gay, and almost all of the congregation was LGBT.<ref name=Ennisp107>Ennis, Michael. "What do these Rugged Texas He-Men Have in Common?". ''[[Texas Monthly]]''. June 1980. Volume 8, No. 6. ISSN 0148-7736. Start page: 107. Cited: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA107 107]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on May 9, 2014. "It was Easter morning at Houston's Metropolitan Community Church of the Resurrection. [...]"</ref> In December 2010<!--last month from January 2011--> Reverend Harry Knox, a pro-LGBT activist, became the leader of the Resurrection Metropolitan. In 2011 Resurrection Metropolitan had 850 members.<ref name=ShellnutGayDivKid/>

In 1995, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church began accepting LGBT members and became a "[[Reconciling in Christ]]" Lutheran church; it was founded in 1922. In 2008, Rene Garcia, a member of the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] (ELCA), stated that she estimated that 40% of the members identified themselves as LGBT, with many of them coming from other Christian denominations such as Missouri Synod Lutheranism and Roman Catholicism.<ref name=KarkabiGay/>

Over the years a number of Evangelical/Pentecostal LGBT affirming churches have also ministered to the Houston Community.  Community Gospel Church began in the early 1980s and served the community until 2012, with about 150 members at its height.  In 2012, Gateway of Hope Church [http://www.gatewayhouston.org] was birthed as a Pentecostal/Word of Faith, Spirit Filled, Word Based, Jesus Centered fellowship meeting off of Dacoma Street and Hempstead Highway and is pastored by Pastor Sven Verbeet.  Founded in 2010, Living Mosaic Christian Church [http://www.livingmosaic.cc] pastored by Rev. Jason Wood meets at the Montrose Counseling Center.

In 2008, pro-LGBT activist [[Jay Bakker]] argued that [[Joel Osteen]], pastor of [[Lakewood Church]], should speak out in favor of the LGBT community, and invited him to join his group in a picnic.<ref>Feldman, Claudia. "[http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Gay-group-Tammy-Faye-s-son-invite-Joel-Osteen-to-1783982.php Gay group, Tammy Faye's son invite Joel Osteen to picnic]" (). ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. May 8, 2008. Retrieved on May 3, 2014.</ref>

==Religious leaders==
* [[Kirbyjon Caldwell]]
* [[Daniel DiNardo]]
* [[Joseph Fiorenza]]
* [[Joel Osteen]]
* [[Jack Yates]]
* [[Homer Edwin Young]]

==Prominent adherents==
* [[Michael Arceneaux]] (author of ''[[I Can't Date Jesus]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patrick |first1=Diane |title=What Would Beyoncé Do? Michael Arceneaux's Asking. |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/77265-what-would-beyonc-do-michael-arceneaux-s-asking.html |access-date=22 July 2018 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=June 15, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> which discusses his previous Catholic faith)<ref name=DecailleNia>{{cite news|author=Decaille, Nia|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/08/03/i-cant-date-jesus-michael-arceneauxs-memoir-loosens-the-chastity-belt-on-queer-intimacy/?noredirect=on|title='I Can't Date Jesus': Michael Arceneaux's memoir loosens the chastity belt on queer intimacy|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2018-08-03|access-date=2018-08-06}}</ref>
* [[Carol Vance]] (former District Attorney of [[Harris County, Texas|Harris County]])<ref>[[Carol Vance|Vance, Carol]]. ''Boomtown DA''. Whitecaps Media, 2011.</ref>{{page needed|date=November 2017}}

==See also==
* [[Religion in Houston]]
* [[Christianity in the United States]]

==References==
* Esparza, Jesus Jesse. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20140502202721/http://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Esparza-La-Colonia-Mexicana.pdf La Colonia Mexicana: A History of Mexican Americans in Houston]." () ''[[Houston History]]'' Volume 9, Issue 1. p.&nbsp;2-8. Center for Public History, [[University of Houston]].
* Garza, Natalie. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20140502202911/http://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Garza-Mother-Church.pdf The “Mother Church” of Mexican Catholicism in Houston]." () ''[[Houston History]]'' Volume 9, Issue 1. p.&nbsp;14-19. Center for Public History, [[University of Houston]].
* Pruitt, Bernadette. ''The Other Great Migration: The Movement of Rural African Americans to Houston, 1900-1941'' ([[Sam Rayburn]] Series on Rural Life, sponsored by [[Texas A&M University-Commerce]]). [[Texas A&M University Press]], October 24, 2013. {{ISBN|1603449485}}, 9781603449489.
* Treviño, Robert R. ''[[The Church in the Barrio: Mexican American Ethno-Catholicism in Houston]]''. [[UNC Press Books]], February 27, 2006. [https://books.google.com/books?id=OxsfuWARmCQC&dq=%22aPPARENTLY+few+Mexicans+lived+in+Houston%22&pg=PA25 15]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on November 22, 2011. {{ISBN|0-8078-5667-3}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8078-5667-3}}.

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Religion in Houston}}
{{Christianity in the United States by state/city}}

[[Category:Christianity in Houston| ]]
[[Category:Christianity in Texas]]
[[Category:Religion in Houston]]