Calera Chapel
Toyahvale (Calera), Texas
see information below the photos
Calera Chapel
Toyahvale (Calera), Texas
The building now known as Calera Chapel is a non-denominational community chapel that is open to the public for weddings, retreats, prayer, and other gatherings and ceremonies.
The church was originally built in 1902 as Mission Mary, a mission of Saint Joseph Catholic Parish in Fort Davis and then became a parish as Sacred Heart Church, part of the Diocese of San Angelo. The church was founded by Father Nicolas Brocardus, who immigrated to the United States from the Netherlands in 1892 and moved to the Big Bend area in 1897. As a circuit-riding priest he served communities in the area for many years.
Sacred Heart served the Calera community into the 1940's, when it fell into disuse and was abandoned. By the turn of the 21st Century the building was in very poor condition. In 2002 the Calera Foundation restored the church to its current beautiful condition. The Calera Foundation continues to maintain the church and to research and document the history of the Calera/Toyahvale/Balmorhea area. See more information below.
photos
contemporary photos: Mike Gross, February 2020
Historical photo: undated archive photo courtesy of Pat Brijalba/ Calera Foundation
location:
FM 3078/ Toyahvale, Texas (USPS address)
coordinates: 30.938309100,-103.827429900
The site of historical Calera is very close to the current, unincorporated town of Toyahvale, which is the western terminus of the Pecos Valley Southern Railway. Toyahvale/Calera is less than 10 miles southwest of Balmorhea. Look for the chapel just west of the intersection of FM 3078 (old US Hwy 290) and TX SH 17 near Toyahvale.
resources/ more information (see resources page for complete citations):
email communication with Pat Brijalba of Calera Foundation
Calera, Texas (Calera Foundation web site) “Mission Mary”
Texas Monthly “Calera Chapel”
Texas Pecos Trail Region/Texas Pecos Trail “Toyahvale: Calera Chapel”
The Calera Foundation has great historical photos and testimonies of long-time residents on their web site: http://www.caleratexas.org/. They can be reached to ask about using the church at caleratexas@gmail.com. Their mailing address is PO Box 12 Toyahvale, TX 79786.