First Methodist Church of Canyon

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the First Methodist Church of Canyon, out in Randall County. Now, when you're talkin' about the beginnings of a town, you're often talkin' about who showed up first with a Bible and a willingness to stand out in the wind. Canyon, Texas is no different.

The earliest religious service in Canyon happened in 1889. Two men were leadin' the charge from the Panhandle District of the Methodist Church: the Reverend Jerome Harelson and Isaac Mills. Those two were the spark.

But it was the Reverend B. F. Jackson who organized the city's first church, right there in October of 1889.

And who answered the call? Well, the marker tells us exactly who was there at the founding. Mrs.

Crain. Mrs. M.

M. McGee. Mrs.

A. Roper and Miss Louie Roper. Mr. and Mrs.

Nix Thompson and Miss Tennie Thompson. Seven souls, by name, who said yes before there was even a building to say it in. Now Reverend Jackson, he didn't stay put.

In 1890, he was out preaching to great throngs in Palo Duro Canyon. Think about that. Not a sanctuary with pews and a steeple, but the canyon itself as the congregation hall, red rock walls rising up on all sides.

Then came 1891, and with it two of the most human moments a community can mark: the first local funeral and the first wedding, both presided over by Reverend Jackson. Joy and grief, in the same year, held by the same church. It wasn't until 1900, under the first regular pastor, the Reverend T.

F. Robeson, that the original church building finally went up. From a handful of members in the open air to a proper structure standing on Canyon ground.

That's a church that earned its walls.

What the marker says

Earliest religious service in Canyon was in 1889. Leaders were the Rev. Jerome Harelson and Isaac Mills, of Panhandle District, Methodist Church, the Rev. B. F. Jackson organized this (city's first) church in Oct. 1889. Members: Mrs. Crain, Mrs. M. M. McGee, Mrs. A. Roper, Miss Louie Roper, Mr. and Mrs. Nix Thompson and Miss Tennie Thompson. The Rev. Mr. Jackson preached to great throngs in Palo Duro Canyon, 1890; held first local funeral and first wedding, 1891. Original church building was erected under the first regular pastor, the Rev. T. F. Robeson, 1900. (1969)