sketchclub.net: The El Paso Sketch Club: The 1908 Saint Clements Episcopal Church

Located at the corner of Campbell and Montana, one of El Paso's most iconic church buildings still stands in outstanding condition. A Gothic wonder, the St. Clements Episcopal Church building was completed and had its first Service on Sunday, February 9, 1908. The building was heralded in period newspapers, not only in 1908 but for years afterwards.

St. Clements was established in El Paso in 1870, the very first Protestant fellowship in the city. The mission was organized by Rev. Joseph Wilkin Tays on October 2nd of that year, after Senator A.J. Fountain and Judge Gaylor Clark requested support for a new church. The first services were held in a rented adobe house, which stood at the northwest corner of today's Mesa and Main streets. The original congregation had about 50 souls.

Judge Clark was shot and killed while assisting a local police officer, and it was a major blow to the church. By the end of 1875, every original member of the church had left the area. Rev. Tays also left, unable to support himself financially.

In 1880, with the advent of the railroad era in El Paso, Rev. Tays returned with vision anew - and another congregation was formed. The cornerstone for the first Church building was laid on Christmas Day 1881, and their first service was held in February of 1882. In 1884, Rev. Tays fell as a victim of Smallpox, and James Halm became Pastor. From the Church's inception in 1870 to the commission given to S.E. Patton in 1907, a period of 37 years, there were only 5 Pastors of this church. In 1908, when this building was completed, there were over 500 people on the communicant list.

At the time of its completion, St. Clements was the costliest church building in the city, running over $60,000 to build. Patton utilized cut native stone for both the walls and the foundation, and the church was adjoined by a parish house built with the same materials and architectural style. The auditorium initially could accomodate at least 800 parishoners. The building was constructed so as to allow for easy expansion, because the congregation was growing so rapidly at the time of its completion.

Architect S.E. Patton was one of El Paso's most creative architects during his tenure in town. This is one of two breathtaking church designs from Patton's hand during the early 1900s, the other being the Mission Revival First Baptist Church on Myrtle St. east of downtown.

Some of the most interesting architecture in El Paso is from the mind of S.E. Patton. He came to El Paso from Phoenix, where he was known as the designer and owner of the 1898 Patton Opera House, a Queen Anne icon that was, unfortunately, demolished in 1985. Patton moved to the Sun City less than two years after he built the Opera House. A tragic event called "The Great Gilmore Massacre" took place at the theater while he was owner, and the heartbroken Patton sold the property to E.M. Dorris within two weeks. The building was renamed the Dorris Opera House.

Briefly, the Great Gilmore Massacre occurred when the cast of "Don Caesar" was given muskets that were supposed to be loaded with blanks. These guns were actually mistakenly loaded with live ammunition, however, and a number of the actors were injured and one, Lewis Monroe, died. The lead actor in the production, Paul Gilmore, was severely injured - and since he was famous, his name became associated with the event.

During the pandemic, live photographs of buildings we feature are a little more difficult to get. Therefore, the attached photographs are Google Earth Street View screenshots. Hopefully, we will be able to get downtown to shoot this building soon.

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Text and research provided to Sketchclub.net by Mark Stone, citing period newspaper articles accessed at newspapers.com