Brushie Prairie Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say, right along the road south of Frost in Navarro County. Pull up a chair, friend, because this one goes back a ways. Back to 1874, when a fellowship got itself organized, grown up from earlier meetings held in a log schoolhouse.

They called it Post Oak Methodist Church in those days, and it came into the world properly chartered with thirty-five members standing behind it, guided by the Reverend John J. Farmer. Thirty-five souls.

Not a crowd by today's reckoning, but enough to build something that would last nearly a century. Now, a church needs land before it can put down real roots, and that's where the Johnson brothers come in. J.

M., W. D., and E. W.

Johnson, along with F. M. Johnson, gave the land in 1893 where the present structure still stands.

Four men of the same name, giving ground so their community could have a home. That kind of thing doesn't get forgotten easily. The years rolled on, and in 1914 the church took a new name: Brushie Prairie.

Then in 1952, the Mt. Zion Methodists came and joined the congregation, folding two communities into one. But even the sturdiest fellowship meets its last Sunday eventually.

After ninety years, Brushie Prairie Methodist Church disbanded in June of 1964. Ninety years of hymns, and then quiet. Except, well, not entirely quiet.

Because every June, people still come back. An annual homecoming, held right here on this land the Johnson brothers gave. Some stories don't end so much as they keep showing up, once a year, every June.

What the marker says

Organized south of Frost in 1874, this fellowship grew from earlier meetings conducted in a log schoolhouse. Originally known as Post Oak Methodist Church, it was chartered with thirty-five members under the leadership of the Rev. John J. Farmer. Brothers J. M., W. D., and E. W. Johnson, and F. M. Johnson gave the land in 1893 where the present structure stands. In 1914 the church was renamed Brushie Prairie. In 1952 the Mt. Zion Methodists joined the congregation. After 90 years the church disbanded in June 1964. An annual homecoming is held here each June. (1981)