The Church of the Good Shepherd in 1907
Centennial Celebration in 1960
The earliest recorded visit of an Episcopal Priest to Corpus Christi was that of the Rev. Lucius H. Jones in 1857. Three years later, a congregation was formerly organized on the second floor of the Nueces County Courthouse. Bishop Alexander Gregg appointed the Rev. S.D. Davenport as the first minister. The women of the congregation soon organized a group known as the Dorcas Sewing Society, which over the years has provided much support to the church.
The early years of the church were difficult ones. Corpus Christi’s location on the edge of the frontier and the coming of the Civil War contributed to this difficulty. There are no recorded meetings of the church from 1862 until the end of the Civil War and the congregation was without a minister for almost 11 years.
During the 1870’s The Church of the Good Shepherd constructed its first permanent building at the corner of Taylor and Chaparral streets. Additional facilities were built later and, in 1926, the congregation moved to its current location at the corner of Park and Broadway. The present facility was completed in 1950.
As documented in the book “A Century of Missionary Work, 1860-1969,” by Hortence Warner Ward, The Church of the Good Shepherd was and is a mother church of its part of the Diocese, and because it now has such a well-established record of missionary concern and outreach, it is logical to expect that this strong parish will continue to be a focal point of planning and action for extending God’s Kingdom.
The Church of the Good Shepherd continues its missionary work today. It is significant that the Gospel on the day that The Reverend David Shepherd Rose, former Rector of Good Shepherd was consecrated Bishop in St. Paul’s Church, Petersburg, Virginia was from St. John, 21:15 “Feed My Sheep,” which this parish has indeed done and continues to do.