HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, where the late President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush attended church, has completed a $66 million, five-year construction and improvements campaign.
Largest Episcopal Church in the Nation
The church, known as the largest Episcopal Church in the nation, is located in the Memorial/Tanglewood area, a couple of miles north of the Galleria.
The expansion program added five new buildings to the church, plus a new, specially designed pipe organ, called the Magnificat Organ, which fills the balcony at the rear of the church.
The funeral services for President and Mrs. Bush, were held at the church in 2018. The Bushes Houston residence was located on a nearby gated cul-de-sac.
Co-Chairs Included Secretary of State James A. Baker
Honorary co-chairs for the five-year church expansion campaign were the President and Mrs. Bush and George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush and former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III and Mrs. Susan Garrett Baker.
The church’s dedication, blessing and consecration services were held Sunday under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr. and the Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly, former Bishop of the Diocese of Texas based in Houston.
New facilities include:
Christ Chapel: This space created anew from the shell of the “Old Church” has an intimate, Gothic feel and seats 195. It features 14 stained-glass windows (seven on either side of the nave) and the Chapel Rose Window above the altar. The new the Magnificat Organ is located in the balcony.
The Parish Life Center: This new building on the west side of campus includes a modern, multi-use, worship space that can be reset for dinners, concerts, meetings, movies and other events. It holds 750.
Other facilities include The Music Center with a choir practice hall, a music library and offices; a Children’s Life Center with new Sunday School rooms and nursery; the Pastoral Care Center with a bride’s parlor, clergy offices, meeting rooms and the Chapel Reception Hall; elsewhere on campus there is a new Welcome Center, Gift Shoppe and administrative offices.
The church, 717 Sage Ave., is located near Woodway Drive, west of Loop 610 and Memorial Park.
After leaving the White House, President Bush maintained an office nearby at the Park Laureate building, 10000 Memorial Drive.
Aug. 22, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
Photo credit: Mark Scheyer.
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File: President Bush’s Church Expands with $66 Million in Construction. 2021 St. Martin’s
File: (2) St. Martin’s Episcopal, President Bush’s Church Expands. James A. Baker. Barbara Bush. Sage Road. Woodway Drive. Susan Garrett Baker. Rev. Dr. Russell J. Levenson, Jr. the Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly