Home of the Painted Churches (Schulenburg nickname)

Schulenburg, a city in Fayette County, was designated the “Official Home of the Painted Churches of Texas” by the 79th Texas Legislature in 2005. The city had been called “Home of the Painted Churches” since at least 1992. The famous churches are actually located in nearby small communities (Dubina, Ammannsville, Swiss Alp, High Hill, and Praha). St. Mary’s (High Hill community) has been called the “Queen of the Painted Churches.”
 
Schulenburg is also known as the “Gateway to the Rolling Hills.’
 
 
Wikipedia: Schulenburg, Texas
Schulenburg is a city in Fayette County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,750 at the 2010 census. Known for its German culture, Schulenburg is home of the Texas Polka Music Museum.
     
Google Books
Shifra Stein’s Day Trips from San Antonio and Austin
By Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Kansas City, MO: Two Lane Press
1992  
Pg. 31:
Schulenburg is known as the “Home of the Painted Churches,” although the elaborately painted structures are actually located in nearby small communities (Dubina, Ammannsville, Swiss Alp, High Hill, and Praha).
 
79th Texas Leguislature (2005)
H.C.R.ANo.A93
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, In the mid-19th century, Czech and German settlers arrived in Central Texas looking for new lives of economic opportunity and religious freedom; these hardworking immigrants developed small communities in Fayette County and constructed churches to comfort their spirits and sustain their faith; and
WHEREAS, Today four of these churches dot the landscapes of Ammannsville, Dubina, High Hill, and Praha, small communities near Schulenburg; these four Catholic churches are monuments to the strength and perseverance of our state ’s early settlers, but they also provide a rich aesthetic history of Texas; though the architecture is typically Gothic Revival in style, the interior of these spaces includes rare decorative painting techniques and nearly every wall is covered with bright, densely rendered murals; and
WHEREAS, Schulenburg serves as the destination of choice for those who want to experience the beauty of the churches firsthand as the Schulenburg Chamber of Commerce offers tours of the Painted Churches, which let visitors marvel at the visual splendor of this charming part of Texas history; and
WHEREAS, In Ammannsville, St. John the Baptist Church features a distinctive interior of soft colors and a vaulted ceiling decorated with ornamental paintings of cherubs, palm ferns, and lily blossoms; in Dubina, Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church includes the masterful strokes of a 19th century painter ’s original frescoes, which were restored in the 1980s; and
WHEREAS, The wild prairie land of High Hill is home to St. Mary ’s Catholic Church, which features 18 stained glass windows imported from Germany in the late 1800s; the rich reds and blues from the windows complement a dark, hand-carved altar and the hues of the statues of religious figures and saints; the final site, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Praha, contains wood from Germany ’s Black Forest, and it also features the work of Swiss artist Gottfried Flurry, who painted the ceiling with religious imagery and flowers and vines representing local flora; and
WHEREAS, Nestled in the gentle rolling hills of Fayette County, the Painted Churches of Texas are an irreplaceable part of our state ’s cultural heritage; for the region ’s early settlers, the churches represented hope and freedom, while today, they are monuments to a glorious past; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate Schulenburg the Official Home of the Painted Churches of Texas.
Cook of Colorado
Bohac
Crabb
H.C.R.ANo.A93
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 93 was adopted by the House on April 22, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 93 was adopted by the Senate on May 23, 2005, by a viva-voce vote.
 
8 March 2006, Kerrville (TX) Daily Times, pg. 36, col. 4 ad:
Painted Churches
Travel to Schulenburg enjoying the beautiful wildflowers, known as The Home of the Painted Churches. Trip includes a guided tour of Saint Mary’s, Saint John the Baptist, Saints Cyril & Methodius, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
(Kerrville ISD Community Education—ed.)
 
Google Books
Day Trips from San Antonio:
Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler
By Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Guilford, CT: GPP Travel
2011
Pg. 64:
Schulenburg is known as the “Home of the Painted Churches,” although the elaborately painted structures are actually located in nearby small communities (Dubina, Ammannsville, Swiss Alp, High Hill, and Praha).
 
USA Today
Painted Churches of Texas: Havens of art and inspiration
Louis B. Parks, Go Escape 7:26 a.m. EDT July 28, 2013
Barbecue. Big hair. Buckin’ broncos.
 
The stereotypes attached to the vast state of Texas are legion — and often misleading.
 
Scattered among the state’s dusty plains and the rolling Hill Country are 20 extraordinary churches that brim with art. Known as the Painted Churches of Texas, these backcountry places of worship are adorned with masterful paintings, shimmering stained glass, charming murals and gold-encrusted altars.
(...)
St. Mary’s, High Hill community
2833 F.M. 2672, Schulenburg; stmary-highhill.com
Known as the “Queen of the Painted Churches” on the Painted Churches of Texas tour, St. Mary’s is grand and elaborate with intricately detailed paintings, a large host of statuary and glittering stained-glass windows.