Saint Annes Church

Amidst the bustling energy of Houston, Texas, stands the majestic Saint Anne’s Church. A beacon of faith and history, Saint Anne’s Church has witnessed the city’s transformation since its humble beginnings. In 1924, Bishop Christopher Byrne recognized the need for a new church to serve Houston’s westward expansion. He entrusted Reverend John O’Reilly with the task of finding a suitable location. The first site, a quaint four-room farmhouse nestled among oak trees at 2003 Westheimer, served as a temporary home. This modest structure, affectionately nicknamed “the chicken coop,” marked the birth of Saint Anne’s Parish. Saint Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, became the parish’s namesake, her grace and devotion inspiring the growing community. The parish boundaries, initially encompassing Buffalo Bayou to the north, Waugh Drive and Mount Vernon to the east, and Bissonnet and Ashby Streets to Rice Boulevard on the south, stretched westward, embracing Houston’s burgeoning population. In 1928, the Basilian Fathers, a Catholic teaching order, took stewardship of Saint Anne’s, marking their first church in Texas. Father John J. Glavin, CSB, became the first Basilian pastor. Recognizing the need for a larger, more permanent structure, the parish acquired land at the corner of Shepherd and Westheimer. This would become the site of the second Saint Anne’s Church, a Spanish Mission-style edifice designed by architect Maurice Sullivan after a six-week pilgrimage through Mexico. The present-day Saint Anne’s Church, dedicated in 1939, stands as a unique testament to both world Catholicism and the Mexican Missions. The church’s stained glass windows, installed with the help of parishioners and Charles J. Connick Associates of Boston, illuminate the rich history of the faith. The magnificent three-manual pipe organ, with its 2,659 pipes, fills the sanctuary with celestial music. Renovations in 1991, under the guidance of Father Vincent J. Dulock, CSB, modernized the church while preserving its historic charm. Saint Anne’s Church continues to be a vital part of the Houston community, a place where faith and history intertwine.