A Century of the Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, Robertson County has seen plenty of stories come and go, but this one has roots that run deep, right down into the soil of Hearne itself. It starts in November of 1870, when the Methodists of Hearne got together and organized their church, with the Reverend Horace Bishop serving as pastor.

A beginning, plain and simple, but a beginning that would hold. Then, in 1884, the Reverend Seth Ward came on as pastor, and something worth noting followed close behind. The congregation put up a church right at this very location in 1885.

Now, you might think that's the whole story of Reverend Ward, but here's where the tale stretches a little taller. That same man, the Reverend Mister Ward, would go on to become the first native Texan ever made a bishop in the Methodist church. The first one.

Ever. Out of the whole state of Texas. He got his start right here.

Through the gifts and pledges of the membership, a new edifice rose in 1931, and then the congregation came back around to renovate it in 1965. The name Grace was adopted in 1948, and by 1958 the congregation had become Grace United Methodist Church. And then came 1970.

That was the year they paused, looked back across a full century of Methodism in Hearne, and marked the hundred-year anniversary. A church organized in November of 1870, still standing, still going, in the very place it planted itself. Some stories don't need an ending.

They just keep on.

What the marker says

Methodists of Hearne organized their church in Nov. 1870 with the Rev. Horace Bishop as pastor. In 1884 the Rev. Seth Ward became pastor. A church was constructed at this location in 1885. (Later the Rev. Mr. Ward was first native Texan to be made a bishop in the Methodist church.) Through gifts and pledges of the membership, present edifice was built, 1931; renovated, 1965. Having adopted name "Grace" in 1948, congregation became Grace United Methodist Church in 1958 and observed 100th Anniversary of Methodism in Hearne in 1970.