First United Methodist Church of Canton

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First United Methodist Church of Canton, out in Van Zandt County. Pull up a chair, because this one goes back a ways. Back to 1852, to be precise, just shortly after Canton had become the seat of government for Van Zandt County.

There was no church building, no steeple catching the morning light. Just local families opening their front doors, pulling back the rugs, and hosting Methodist services right there in their homes. They were a mission of the Athens Methodist Episcopal Church, and they were making do.

When the weather cooperated, they moved outside, gathering under brush arbors, which if you've never seen one, is basically a roof of branches and shade and good intentions. Circuit riding ministers would come through periodically to conduct services, and when those ministers were off riding to the next town, the local members held their own classes, their own prayer services, their own singings. They were not waiting on anybody.

By 1856, the congregation had earned itself a first full-time pastor. His name was the Reverend John McMillion, and full-time did not mean stationary. His job included riding out to hold services in other communities of the Canton circuit.

That was the deal. Then came the Civil War, and what followed it. The economic depression that settled over the South hit the Canton church too.

Membership dropped. But here's the thing about a congregation that built itself under brush arbors. It came back.

Membership gradually increased again, and by 1888, the members were ready to build their first actual sanctuary. Now, how they got there is the part worth savoring. The Ladies Aid Society raised the funds.

And the way they raised those funds was by selling chicken dinners to pay for the lumber. Not a metaphor. Actual chicken dinners.

That one-room structure stood and served that congregation faithfully until 1923, when members constructed a brick building, a project that carried through into 1924. That brick building remained in use until the late 1950s. All through its history, the Canton congregation has had its hand in the wider community.

They contributed to the formation of other churches in the area. They offered a wide variety of services. In the late twentieth century, they sponsored refugee families, started a food pantry, and opened a clothes closet.

They ran care programs, worship programs, music programs, reaching members and Canton residents of all ages. And they kept showing up for conference-wide events and mission work beyond their own walls. It started with families moving the furniture aside and singing in the parlor.

It grew into something that has fed people, clothed people, sheltered people, and built other churches besides itself. That is a long ride from a brush arbor, and every mile of it was earned.

What the marker says

In 1852, shortly after Canton became Van Zandt County's seat of government, local families began hosting Methodist services in their homes as a mission of the Athens Methodist Episcopal Church. The Canton worshipers met in homes and under brush arbors, and circuit riding ministers conducted services periodically while local members held classes, prayer services and singings on their own. By 1856, the congregation had its first full-time pastor, the Rev. John McMillion, whose job included riding to hold services in other communities of the Canton circuit. During the economic depression following the Civil War, the Canton church's membership dropped, but it gradually increased again. In 1888, members built their first sanctuary with funds raised by the Ladies Aid Society, which sold chicken dinners to pay for the lumber. The one-room structure served the congregation until members constructed a brick building in 1923-24 that remained in use until the late 1950s. Throughout its history, the Canton congregation has played an active role in its community, contributing to the formation of other churches in the area and offering a wide variety of services. During the late 20th century, members sponsored refugee families and created a food pantry and clothes closet. The church also offered care, worship and music programs for members and Canton residents of all ages. Members continue to support and participate in conference-wide events and mission work. (2006)