THE FIRST RECORDED MASS IN SHERMAN TOOK PLACE IN 1872, AND THREE YEARS LATER BISHOP CLAUDE DUBUIS OF THE DIOCESE OF GALVESTON CREATED A PARISH HERE AND SENT THE REV. LOUIS GRANGER TO SERVE AS FIRST PASTOR. A WOODEN CHAPEL HOUSED WORSHIP SERVICES UNTIL THIS CHURCH BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN 1906. ST. MARY?S IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE WORK OF NOTED GALVESTON ARCHITECT NICHOLAS CLAYTON, WHO INCLUDED GOTHIC AND ROMANESQUE ELEMENTS IN HIS DESIGN.  BUILT BY CONTRACTOR WILLIAM CORNISH & SONS, THE CHURCH IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF SHERMAN?S ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE.

By Elaine Nall Bay & Patricia Nall