DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm passing it straight along to you. Way back in 1840, a man named John Wilson started organizing Methodist classes out in this part of East Texas — meeting at the home of John Box, right here in the area. That's your seed.
Small, quiet, held in somebody's parlor. But seeds have a way of growing. Then came 1846, and Palestine got itself selected as the Anderson County seat.
Right on the heels of that, a woman named Louisiana Catherine Small — folks called her Aunt Bee — helped formally organize a Methodist church in Palestine. Don't let the nickname fool you. Aunt Bee Small was doing the work of institution-building in a brand-new county seat, and that is no small thing.
By 1848, the Palestine community had been folded into the circuit of the Reverend Henderson D. Palmer, which meant a preacher was making regular rounds, keeping the congregation connected to something larger. Then in 1850 the Methodists of Palestine did what people do when they're serious — they built.
The first church structure went up at what is now 812 North Mallard Street. They named it Bascom Chapel, after Bishop Henry B. Bascom.
And here's the part worth sitting with: for many years, Bascom Chapel was the only house of worship in Palestine. Every congregation in that town passed through those same doors. One building holding a whole community's faith.
That lasted until 1884, when Palestine's Methodists erected a new sanctuary — this time at the corner of Avenue A and North Mallard Street. They called it Centenary. Now you'd think that would be a moment of pure celebration, and maybe it was, for a while.
But about the year 1900, something shifted. A split in the congregation. That's all the marker says, and sometimes that's all you need to know — congregations are made of people, and people are complicated.
Out of that split came the formation of the First Methodist Church. Led by Dr. James Kilgore, this new congregation built a sanctuary right here in 1910.
The structure was remodeled in 1952, and in 1986 the adjoining Carroll Building was erected beside it. And since at least 1910, the women of the congregation have been carrying on local and foreign missionary work — quietly, persistently, decade after decade. The congregation still supports youth programs and activities to this day.
From a home meeting in 1840 to a living church that's still showing up — that, friend, is a long ride. And it started with somebody named John Wilson pulling up a chair at John Box's house and saying, let's begin.
What the marker says
This church began with Methodist classes organized by John Wilson in 1840 and held in this area at the home of John Box. Louisiana Catherine "Aunt Bee" Small helped formally organize a Methodist church in Palestine soon after its selection as Anderson County Seat in 1846. By 1848 the Palestine community was included in the circuit of the Rev. Henderson D. Palmer. Palestine's first church structure was built by area Methodists in 1850 at present day 812 N. Mallard Street. Named "Bascom Chapel" after Bishop Henry B. Bascom, it served numerous congregations in the community for many years as Palestine's sole house of worship. In 1884 Palestine's Methodists erected a new sanctuary at the corner of Avenue A and N. Mallard Street and named it "Centenary." About 1900 a split in the congregation resulted in the formation of the First Methodist Church. Led by Dr. James Kilgore, First Methodist built a sanctuary here in 1910. The structure was remodeled in 1952 and in 1986 the adjoining "Carroll Building" was erected. Women's local and foreign missionary efforts have been a part of church activities since at least 1910. The congregation continues to support numerous youth programs and activities.