Do you see this historical marker? You are standing before the Madison Square Presbyterian Church Plaque. It marks a place that was once a thriving church that was at the heart of the community in San Antonio.
Madison Square Presbyterian Church was founded in 1882, just twelve years after Texas was readmitted to the United States. The Reverend William Howell Buchanan, a preacher sent by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions in New York, arrived in San Antonio with the goal of establishing a new church. His first Sunday service in the city only drew one attendee, a Major Daniel N. Bash, a paymaster at Fort Sam Houston. The two conducted the service together and decided to meet again the following week.
Buchanan’s next service was held at the Odd Fellow’s Building on the corner of Houston and St. Mary’s streets. The congregation grew, and they were able to purchase three lots of land west of Madison Square Park and build a temporary structure there. They then began construction of a permanent building—the cornerstone was laid on November 30th, 1882.
The community was a mix of Baptists, Episcopalians, and military families – giving life to a church that would serve as a religious center for the city.
The church was a symbol of the growing community and played a vital role in the spiritual life of San Antonio. The church’s name is a reminder of that time period and the influence that it had on the city. This plaque celebrates that legacy.