Ector Methodist Church

Duane's take

The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of Ector Methodist Church. Now, some stories start with a bang. This one starts with a railroad.

The community of Ector was established in 1874, right along the route of the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Wherever those rails went, people followed, and Ector was no different. The town took root, and before long, folks needed more than just a place to sleep and a place to trade.

They needed a place to gather in faith. That came in 1885, when the Ravenna Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was created. The Ector congregation, meeting in a nearby school at the time, was served by the Reverend R.

R. Nelson. A school for a church.

Humble beginnings, sure. But watch what happens next. In 1888, they built a frame church.

And not just any frame church. This one had twin steeples reaching up toward the sky. Twin steeples.

Now that's a statement. That building stood watch over the community for decade after decade, until 1960, when it was razed. Gone.

But the congregation, they didn't go anywhere. By 1963, an educational building had been erected. In 1968, the congregation was renamed Ector United Methodist Church.

And in 1976, a new sanctuary was built. The name changed. The building changed.

The railroad that started it all has long since passed into history. But the congregation? Still there.

Still serving. The marker puts it plainly: this church has served its community for over one hundred years. Out here in Fannin County, that's not a footnote.

That's the whole story.

What the marker says

The community of Ector was established in 1874 on the route of the Texas & Pacific Railroad. The Ravenna Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was created in 1885, and the Ector congregation, which met in a nearby school, was served by the Rev. R. R. Nelson. A frame church with twin steeples was built in 1888. It was razed in 1960, and an educational building was erected in 1963. The congregation was renamed Ector United Methodist Church in 1968, and a new sanctuary was built in 1976. This church has served its community for over one hundred years. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986