St. Paul's Chapel Is Lubbock's Oldest Church Building

St. Paul's on the Plains is, by the City of Lubbock's own account, the oldest existing church building in the city. The little Episcopal chapel was built in 1913 on the southwest corner of 15th Street and Avenue O, when Lubbock was barely more than a railroad town.

Its survival took some luck. The building was moved to 1609 Avenue O in 1927, later sold, and by the 1980s had fallen into disrepair from vandalism and neglect. In 1996 it was moved a third time, to its present spot at 40th and University, and completely restored.

Today the chapel sits inside K.N. Clapp Park and is rented out for small weddings, meetings, and receptions. That makes it more than a pretty venue. It's an early piece of Lubbock that was nearly lost and then folded back into everyday public life.