The Land and Its People, 1876-1981: Deaf Smith County, Texas Page: 536
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FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
First Church Building
1902The first Methodist Church was organized
in March 1899 by Rev. T. F. Robeson in
a small school house near the corner of
Third and Miles. The following were charter
members: J. D. Bratton and wife, Tom Inman
and wife, Elisha Carter and wife, Asa
Martin and wife and son, Robert Humphrey
and wife, Mrs. Ina Holderness and Mrs.
Bassett -just thirteen members.
Rev. Robeson was probably the first to
preach in Deaf Smith County. He wrote in
his "Pastor's Book"
"I do not claim to be
the first to preach the gospel in Hereford,
but there were no other Methodist preachers
tracks around when I came". From all obtainable
records, the Methodist Church was
the first to be organized. It was on a circuit
and included in the Clarendon District.
The first building committee worked hard
to raise enough money to begin the church.
When all sources were exhausted, old
Brother Buttran completed the goal. He said
it would be the last church he would be able
to finish.
In 1902 a small frame church was completed.
Homemade pews were installed, a
reed organ was placed in the church and a
bell, donated by Mrs. Joe Ray and Mrs.
William Lay, was hung in the belfry. Bro.
Buttran's acquaintance with the District
helped make this possible and in appreciation,
two rocking chairs were placed in the
church for him and his wife.
G. A. F. Parker, who had been instrumental
in organizing the first Methodist Church
in Amarillo, moved to Hereford in 1902. He
became interested in preserving the history
of the church and many early stories are
from his records.
Hereford was made a station. Rev. C. L.
Cartwright was the first preacher. E. B.
Black was the first Sunday School
Superintendent, serving for twenty-four
years and Miss Mary Louis Wilson played
the little reed organ. She later became Mrs.
G. A. F. Parker.
The church was crowded for the first service
and Bishop E. R. Hendrix preached apowerful sermon. All the money was raised
to finish paying the church debt that morning
and in the midst of rejoicing, the Bishop
began the Dedication Service.
In 1905 a parsonage was built on Jackson
Street to replace the small frame house near
the church. It is still an attractive residence
today.
In 1907 C. E. Edwards presented a piano
to the church and young Miss Nellie Black
helped play for services. Hereford was enjoying
a land boom in 1908 and the church
was growing. W. G. Ross, E. B. Black, and
G. A. F. Parker were named to a committee
to purchase a new building site and a lot was
purchased at the corner of Fifth and Main.
W. Jesse Stanford, a new member, attended
the Layman's Conference in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. He was a dedicated
layman all his life
often filling the pulpit
in surrounding towns when the pastor was
away. He and Miss Nellie Black were married
in the only formal wedding held in the
small frame church.
In 1920 a new brick church was completed
at the corner of Fifth and Main. Rev.
M. M. Beavers was the first pastor. Miss
Mattie Mae Swisher choir director, helped
eleven succeeding pastors for twenty years
service. Special music was provided by Mrs.
Abb Thompson on the violin, solos by Mrs.
Ray Coneway and a men's quartet I. H.
Spratt, E. B. Black, Joe Byer and A. A. Ott.
When Rev. E. B. Bowen came to
Hereford in 1928, the church was debt free.
It was decided to move forward, go into debt
again, repair the church building, install a
Pipe Organ and erect a new parsonage. Additional
money was needed to pay for the
organ and Mrs. J. F. Ward, President of the
Women's Missionary Society, directed the
women in an unrelenting drive to raise
$5,000.00 for the organ. Mrs. G. A. F.
Parker, Mrs. W. Jesse Stanford and I.H.
Spratt made many trips to investigate the
best organ and decided on a Henry Pilcher.
Mrs. Parker continued as organist as long as
she was able, assisted by Mrs. Stanford who
played for services for twenty-five years.
Later Mrs. Glenn Snyder, Mrs. John
Jacobsen, Jr. and Mrs. Bill Stanford helped
Mrs. W. Jesse Stanford.
It was jokingly said that when the
Methodists sang "Will there be any stars inMy Crown", the Baptists across the street
could be heard singing "No, Not One".
When the great financial depression
reached its peak in 1933, the church was
struggling hard to pay its debts and it was
not until 1942 that all debts were paid and
the church was dedicated by Bishop Ivan
Lee Holt.
This was the great "Unification Program
in Methodism". Presiding Elder was changed
to District Superintendent, Sunday
School became Church School, Epworth
League became M.Y.F. (Methodist Youth
Fellowship) and Women's Missionary Society
became Women's Society of Christian
Service. The Nettie Price Slaton, Carrie
Black, Lutie Fox, Elizabeth Brumley,
Naomi Hare, and Alice Ward Circles were
named to honor these women for service.
In 1948 a new building program was
begun to provide a new sanctuary and more
rooms for the Church School. It was voted
that work would proceed only as the money
was raised so the church would be debt free.
The brick parsonage was moved to the 400
block of Miles so the new Sanctuary could
be joined to the north side of the church.
Ward Parlor was a new addition provided
for by Mrs. J. F. Ward whose long years of
dedicated service and generosity enabled the
church to move forward.
A church wide meeting was held to raise
the money to complete the new Sanctuary
and move the organ from the old Sanctuary.
The entire sum was raised and the new
Sanctuary was dedicated February 1950 by
Bishop W. C. Martin. A Fiftieth Anniversary
celebration was joyously held
18991949.
Betty Solomon, organist, and W. Jesse
Stanford, Jr. were the first to be married in
the new Sanctuary by Rev. Don Davidson,
pastor. Mrs. J. C. McCracken was directing
the choir. Miss Naomi Hare left to serve as
a missionary in Peru and later in Monterrey,
Mexico for 24 years.
Expansion continued during 1953-1956.
The children's educational building was
built. The building of a second Methodist
Church was approved and lots were purchased
on Irving to build a church and the
Donner property given for a parsonage.
Wesley Methodist Church was completed in
1954 and Rev. E. L. Naugle became the first
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Deaf Smith County Historical Society. The Land and Its People, 1876-1981: Deaf Smith County, Texas, book, 1982; Deaf Smith County, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth16010/m1/540/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Deaf Smith County Library.