Heritage Happy Hour – Riverside Church

Join us for our next Heritage Happy Hour on November 17th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Riverside Church, located at 530 N. Main Street Beaumont, TX 77701! Enjoy craft beer showcased by Giglio Distributing Co., wine, and learn more about the old Westminister Presbyterian Church, founded in 1880 with the sanctuary being completed in 1912.

“This property consists of a sanctuary, in high Gothic style, completed around 1912, and an educational building, in Art Deco style, completed around 1930. Both buildings, typical of the construction of their time, were built to stand the test of time, both structurally and architecturally. Westminster, a ministry rich in history and special to many in Beaumont, dissolved in 2009. In an act of true civic service, the late Jim Austin purchased the building and prevented it from becoming a source of blight for the city. He and his heirs maintained it for 8 years, seeking a buyer who would restore the property to its former beauty. By the grace of God and through His provision, Riverside Church purchased the property in July 2017 and began the process of renovating it for further Christian ministry. Some people told us we were crazy, that no new church should locate itself downtown when all of the growth was on the west end. And a church plant should especially not begin its life with a renovation project, which more often than not has huge unexpected expenses.

However, such a project is consistent with our ethos as a church. For us, it was entirely consistent with our vision and mission of renewing, restoring and recapturing the freeing message of His gospel – and to see the return to this beautiful architectural treasure the laughter of children, the singing of God’s praises, and the teaching of His Word. No new building would offer this type of opportunity — to connect with history, and to honor local Christians of generations past – and to conduct ministry on a property that is not just simply functional for its purpose, but beautiful for the glory of God.” Read more about the building here.

Admission:
-Free for all Beaumont Heritage Society members
-$10 for all non-BHS members 21+

Heritage Happy Hour is an ongoing outreach program typically held every other month, with each event highlighting a historical landmark, time, exhibit, or organization and features craft beer provided by Giglio Distributing Co. (wine and non-alcoholic beverages also available). We believe that by promoting and sharing our local history and its historical significance in a fun and social way, we can also share and promote the efforts to preserve Beaumont’s historical landscape. Join the Beaumont Heritage Society today at beaumontheritage.org and be a part of making a difference!