First Methodist Church of Grand Saline

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Methodist Church of Grand Saline. Now, before there was a church, there was a walk. Or a ride, more likely.

Methodists living in Grand Saline during those early settlement years had to travel three miles west, out to a place called Creagleville, just to attend worship services. Three miles each way, every Sunday. That tells you something about how seriously these folks took their faith.

Then came 1889. Grand Saline had been growing, and the marker is specific about why: industrial and business expansion had brought new life to the town. And with that growth came an opportunity.

The Reverend Samuel N. Allen gathered a small group of worshipers and organized a Methodist congregation right there in Grand Saline. No more three-mile treks to Creagleville.

Now, Grand Saline became a circuit in the denominational district, which meant the congregation was served by circuit-riding ministers, preachers who covered a wide territory on horseback, moving from one community to the next. Among those early pastors, alongside the Reverend Allen himself, were the Reverend John C. Burgamy and the Reverend Edgar R.

Large. These were not men who sat still. For a while, the congregation made do with what they had.

Worship services were held in private homes, and in the community schoolhouse sitting at the southwest corner of Frank and Green streets. Humble beginnings, but the kind that tend to stick. In 1894, the congregation purchased land on the southwest corner of O'Hara and Richardson streets, Richardson being known today as Hiram.

And two years on from that, in 1896, their first true house of worship was completed. Something built, something permanent, something theirs. But Grand Saline kept growing, and the church grew with it.

By 1904 they had moved to a new building at the corner of Main and O'Hara streets. And here is the part worth sittin with: the church has remained at that very site ever since, through a variety of structures, right up through the time that marker was placed. Worship, education, outreach.

The First Methodist Church of Grand Saline has done all of it, decade after decade, for a community that once had to ride three miles just to hear a sermon. Some things are worth building toward. And some congregations are worth the wait.

What the marker says

Methodists living in Grand Saline during the early years of its settlement traveled to Creagleville (3 mi. W) to attend worship services. In 1889, after Grand Saline experienced a period of growth due to industrial and business expansion, a Methodist congregation was organized by the Rev. Samuel N. Allen and a small group of worshipers. Grand Saline became a circuit in the denominational district, and was served by circuit-riding ministers. Early pastors, in addition to the Rev. Mr. Allen, included the Rev. John C. Burgamy and the Rev. Edgar R. Large. Early worship services were held in private homes and in the community schoolhouse at the southwest corner of Frank and Green streets. The congregation purchased land on the southwest corner of O'Hara and Richardson (now Hiram) streets in 1894, and their first house of worship was completed in 1896. The church moved to a new building at Main and O'Hara streets in 1904, and has remained at this site in a variety of structures. The First Methodist Church has grown with the city of Grand Saline. Throughout its history, the church has served the community with a variety of worship, educational, and outreach programs. (1991)