Chambersville Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Chambersville Methodist Church, out here in Collin County. Now settle in, because this is a story about a community that knew how to wait for the right thing, and then built it themselves. Chambersville got its start back in 1847.

That's not a misprint. Eighteen forty-seven. For nearly sixty years after that founding, the folks of Chambersville were making do; gathering for non-denominational services wherever they could find a roof and enough room to stand.

Various locations, the marker says, which tells you something right there about the kind of people these were. They weren't waiting on somebody else to hand them a church. They were showing up anyway.

Then came 1905. The congregation finally got organized, and a man named J.M. Bryan deeded the property, set it right across from the community school, which, if you think about it, is about as clear a statement of community values as you can make without sayin' a word.

And those members? They went ahead and constructed the building themselves. A white frame building, standing there as proof that patience and elbow grease are a pretty powerful combination.

Now, if you think the story slows down after that, think again. The congregation stayed active in community affairs, and in 1945 they launched something called the Harvest Festival. What started as a gathering became a Chambersville tradition; the kind of thing people mark their calendars for.

Then in 1948 the members built a new structure, because a growing community and a living congregation tend to need a little more room over time. The marker calls Chambersville Methodist Church a beacon of light in the community. More than a hundred years of service, and still going.

Some things are worth the sixty-year wait.

What the marker says

Established in 1905, Chambersville Methodist Church has served this community for more than 100 years. From Chambersville's founding in 1847 until the church's organization, residents attended non-denominational services in various locations. J.M. Bryan deeded property for the church, which was to be located across from the community school; members first met at a white frame building they constructed. Since that time, the congregation has been active in community affairs; their Harvest Festival, begun in 1945, has become a Chambersville tradition. Members built a new structure in 1948. Today, Chambersville Methodist Church continues to be a beacon of light in the community. (2009)