An Early Presbyterian Church in Texas

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about one of the earliest Presbyterian congregations to take root in Texas. Now settle in, because this story goes all the way back to the republic days, and it starts with a single man, a schoolhouse, and a list of names worth remembering. On June 2, 1838, the Reverend Hugh Wilson stood at the Goodlaw School House in San Augustine County and organized what would be called the Bethel Presbyterian Church.

That's 1838, folks. The Republic of Texas was barely two years old. And yet here was a congregation takin' shape, charter members and all.

Now the marker gives us every one of those founding names, and they deserve to be spoken aloud. James, Isabella, Joseph, and Martha Sharp. H.

G., Peggy, James, and Elam Alexander. John, Synta, and Amanda Polk. Robert and Margaret Tibbets.

Elizabeth Erwing. Mary McEiver. Polly Nicholson.

Elizabeth Dunham. Catherine Dart. Adeline Stodart.

Ann McKnight. And Jack and Hanna Sharp, listed as colored. That last detail, recorded plainly in the inscription, is a reminder that the history being made in that schoolhouse on that June morning belonged to more than one story, more than one people, bound together in the same charter, the same moment, the same founding act.

The Reverend Hugh Wilson gathered all of them under one name, the Bethel Presbyterian Church, at the Goodlaw School House, on a summer day in 1838. The State of Texas saw fit to erect a marker honoring that day in 1936. Some beginnings, it turns out, are worth marking twice.

What the marker says

Organized as the Bethel Presbyterian Church at Goodlaw School House by the Rev. Hugh Wilson on June 2, 1838 with the following charter members: James, Isabella, Joseph and Martha Sharp; H. G. Peggy, James and Elam Alexander; John, Synta and Amanda Polk; Robert and Margaret Tibbets; Elizabeth Erwing; Mary McEiver; Polly Nicholson, Elizabeth Dunham, Catherine Dart, Adeline Stodart; Ann McKnight; and Jack and Hanna Sharp (colored). Erected by the State of Texas 1936