First Methodist Church of Winters

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Methodist Church of Winters, out in Runnels County. Now, some corners in Texas just have a way of holding on to something. This particular corner in Winters has held a church — and held Sunday worship — every single week since 1899.

That's a long streak, and it didn't happen by accident. The congregation itself got its start back in 1891, organized under a pastor by the name of George D. Wilson.

But in those early years, they didn't have a building to call their own. For eight years, they shared the local school building with other denominations — which, if you've ever tried to share anything with a crowd, you'll appreciate required a particular kind of patience and grace. Both the Christian virtue and the social skill.

Then came John Wesley Bowden. Pioneer circuit rider. A man whose very name sounds like it belongs on a saddle.

Under his pastorate, the congregation finally put up their first church building — a frame structure, right here on this site — in 1899. That corner had its church at last. But the story doesn't stop there.

In 1911, they built something genuinely unusual right next to that first building: a large tabernacle, also frame, and here's the part worth slowing down for — its sides could be opened up. Wide open, to catch the cool breezes in summer. In Runnels County, in Texas, in summer — you'd better believe that was not a minor architectural detail.

That was a theological mercy. The original frame church got moved to Hatchell in 1912. The tabernacle, though, stuck around.

It served for regular worship until the third church went up in 1913. After that, it housed summer revivals, large community gatherings, and stepped back in as a sanctuary whenever the need arose. A building that knew how to make itself useful.

That third church was a steepled, red brick building — a proper statement in the landscape. It served for eleven years, until the present brick church was erected at a cost of forty thousand dollars. And now here is where the story gets the kind of ending you almost don't believe.

In 1925, on one Sunday morning, the parishioners of this church literally — and the marker uses that word deliberately — literally placed eight thousand five hundred dollars and fifty cents in cash on a barrelhead. To retire the church building debt. And, as the marker notes, to act out that old familiar saying about paying cash on the barrelhead.

Fifty cents. They counted it all out. Eight thousand, five hundred dollars, and fifty cents.

Some corners just hold something worth holding. This one has held Sunday worship without a single break since 1899. That's the First Methodist Church of Winters — and that corner has never once gone quiet.

What the marker says

Site of the first church building at Winters and oldest Methodist church site in Runnels County. The congregation was organized in 1891, under George D. Wilson, pastor. For eight years, they shared the local school building with other denominations. The first church building -- a frame structure -- was erected on this site in 1899 under the pastorate of John Wesley Bowden, pioneer circuit rider. In 1911 a large tabernacle, also frame, was built near the first church, which was moved to Hatchell in 1912. The tabernacle was unique in that its sides could be opened to receive cool breezes in the summer. It was used for services until the third church was erected, in 1913. Subsequently, it housed summer revivals and large community gatherings. It also substituted as a sanctuary at necessary times. The third church -- a steepled, red brick building -- served for 11 years, until the present brick church was erected, at a cost of $40,000. In 1925 parishioners literally placed $8,500.50 in cash on a barrelhead one Sunday to retire the church building debt and, incidentally, to act out the familiar saying. A church building has stood on this corner -- and worship has been held here -- each Sunday since 1899.