Doctrine

            Since the arrival of the first Czech Protestants in Texas in 1849, the influence of the Protestant denominations among settlers spread. The arrival of Pastor Josef Bergman in the area of the Stephen F. Austin grant in Austin County, and his subsequent letters to friends back in Bohemia and Moravia, heralded the introduction of many European settlers into the Texas and Oklahoma area.  Emigrants continued to come from Bohemia and Moravia of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, seeking freedom from political, religious, and class oppression.  All hoped for a better life, and most settled in areas with high-quality soil, since they came from rural villages with a farming lifestyle.

            The earliest Czech-Moravian Brethren settlers came to the West, McLennan County, area in 1875.  The Josef Masek and John Foit families arrived, then were joined by others.  These, the earliest of Czech-Moravian immigrants, attended St. Peter’s Evangelical Church, founded and attended by German settlers.

            Rev. Henry Juren was the first minister to conduct Czech services in the area.  It was at this first service held in 1888 that the late Rev. H. E. Beseda, Sr. was baptized as an infant.  Rev. Adolph Chlumsky was the organizing pastor on June 5, 1892, making the trip from his farm in Brenham by railroad until 1908. Worship services were held 6 times a year.  Other early ministers were Vaclav Pazdral, F.G. Kupec, Joseph Hegar, Anton Motycka, and F.J. Kostohryz. 

            In 1895 three acres of land were purchased east of the town of West and a church was constructed, with an initial cost of $1,000.00, and most of the work was donated.  The building was dedicated on September 10, 1896.  This building was severely damaged by a windstorm in 1919, dismantled, and rebuilt in 1920, and used until July 17, 1956, when it was dismantled and used in the building of a new structure. 

            There were about 50 communicant members in 1900.  Among them were family names such as Foit, Beseda, Kudelka, Svacek, Janek, Barton, Hegar, and Adam.

            A parsonage was built next to the church in 1910.  In 1903 the congregation sent delegates to the meeting held in Granger of similar congregations all over Texas.  The resulting organization became the denomination known as The Evangelical Unity of the Czech Moravian Brethren.  A tract of land located three miles west of West was donated to the church in 1908 by Mrs. Anna Urbanovsky to serve as a cemetery.

            The West congregation served as host to a church convention in 1910 in which two of its young members, Rev. Joseph Hegar and Rev. Joseph Barton were ordained into the ministry.  In 1918, at another locally hosted convention, Rev. Frank Horak, a member of the congregation, was also ordained a minister.  In 1987, another member of the West congregation, Rev. Daniel Husak, was ordained into the ministry.

            Organizations within the West congregation formed even as the group of Czech settlers sought expression of their spiritual needs.  The Sunday School was one of the first organized by the Czech Moravian Brethren.  Soon after1889 several Sunday Schools were organized, those being in West, Taylor, Granger, and New Tabor.

            The Krestanske Sestry (Christian Sisters) of West were organized in 1893 with 26 members.  It was the first local Christian Sisters society in the Unity, and has been in continuous service to the congregation since that time.  Various needsof the church have been served by the faithful women whose one aim has been to serve the Lord by service to others.

            The Mutual Aid Society of the Brethren Church was organized in 1905, with Joseph Janek of West as its vice-president, and the first local unit of the Mutual Aid Society was organized in West, with 10 members.  The West Local, #4 is still active today.

            Young people from the congregation have been active in denomination-wide organizations and activities, and locally, throughout the history of the congregation.  Whether going by the name of Krouzek Mladeze, Young People’s Circle, or Brethren Youth Fellowship, the younger generation has been an active part of the congregation’s life, and young people from West have represented their congregation actively in Unity-wide activities of the Sunday School, BYF, and as Hus Encampment counselors and youth advisors.  Some members of the West congregation have served as directors of conferences and as Hus School personnel. Today the West congregation’s Young Adult Fellowship is an active group of young adults and families serving the needs of the community with Christian enthusiasm..

            The choir has been an active organization almost since the church was organized in 1892.  a reference to a choir from West is mentioned in the March, 1902(Vol. I, No. 3) issue of the Brethren Journal.  This choir sang at the dedication of the Granger church in February, 1902.  The West congregation’s choir continues to regularly perform music for worship services and for other special occasions.

            Rev. F.J. Kostohryz continued to serve the West congregation in the Czech language on a monthly basis until his death in 1973.  Other pastors who have served the West congregation include Rev. Albert Michalik, Rev. Gordon Hejl, Rev. Gary Staats, Rev. John Bravenec, Rev. H.E. Beseda, Jr.; also Rev. Jesse Skrivanek, Dr. Larry Hill, and several other Brethren ministers on a supply basis for 16 years, before Rev. Lawrence Junek began serving as resident pastor in 1981.  Rev. Robert Holaday became pastor in April, 1992, and Dr. Donald Ketcham became pastor in April, 1996.  The current pastor, Rev. Curtis Holland, began his pastorate in the West congregation in 2003, after serving on interim supply since 2002.

            The West congregation continues in an active role as the spiritual bond among Czech Protestants, but has stepped out of an ethnic role as its outreach and influence touches all who seek a congregational home.

            The congregation’s house of worship in 2006 is a red brick structure built in 1956, at the corner of  Marable and Shook streets in West, Texas.  This building houses a sanctuary seating 207, a large fellowship area, and nine classrooms, a kitchen, and two offices.

 Several changes have been made to the building and land acquisitions and disposals have been made over recent years.  In 1993 a complete refurbishing of the Chancel and Sanctuary was undertaken.  Carpet was replaced, all furniture was refinished, and sanctuary seating was repaired. Throughout the building asphalt floor tile was removed and replaced with vinyl tile and carpet.  In 1999 the congregation purchased property with a house in the same block as the church for future expansion and church use.  2001 saw the expansion and furnishing of the kitchen area, addition of a pastor’s study and office, with a reception area and restroom, and remodeling of the women’s restroom.  The parsonage and supporting lots were sold in 2004, as the current trend  is for other arrangements for pastoral housing.  2006 again saw the congregation purchasing property as the house and lots next door to the church became available, thus completing the congregation’s ownership of the entire one-half block containing the church and adjoining property.

The communicant membership is 138, with additional children and attending non-members.  The Christian Sisters Society remains active in the life of the church, and the Brethren Youth Fellowship and Young Adult Fellowship includes 20 or more members.
                    
                        

            At its 116 year mark, West Brethren Church is alive and well, and is facing the future with excitement  as did its forefathers, with faith in the Lord, and resting upon the promises He gives to those whom He loves.