Gary’s St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church became the first Episcopal church in Indiana to get a state historical marker.

Church historian Paula M. DeBois, a longtime parishioner, worked for five years to get the church at 2425 West 19th Ave., in Gary, official recognition for its growth in the mid-20th century and involvement in civil rights and other social issues in Gary.

“As we approach the 100th anniversary of St. Augustine’s, we can be thankful for the courage of our founding members,” said DeBois.

The church was founded in 1927 by a group of Black lawyers, doctors and other professionals at a time when Gary and the Episcopal church were segregated.

Benedictine monks, who were assigned by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana, aided the church in the 1930s and 1940s. It resided

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