First United Methodist Church of Huntsville

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, Walker County, Texas. Now, before there was a church building — before there was even a deed or a cornerstone — there were riders. Itinerant preachers, working the Montgomery County circuit, probably swinging through Huntsville before 1842 to keep the Methodist flame lit.

No permanent walls, no settled congregation. Just a preacher on horseback and folks willing to gather. Then in 1842, the Texas Methodist Conference made it official.

They appointed the Reverend Henderson B. Palmer as the first pastor of the Huntsville church. That's the moment this congregation got a name and a shepherd.

By 1854, the rolls showed a hundred and twenty members. That's a serious flock. And that same year, the church purchased the land right here at this site.

The deed was made out to a set of trustees — D. J. Ransom, Thomas Gibbs, Robert Wynne, Williamson Wynne, Thomas Bowdre, and their successors.

Those are the names that signed for this ground. Now here's the thing that ought to give you pause: a hundred and twenty members in 1854, and yet no permanent sanctuary went up until 1857. Three years of worshipping with that deed in hand before the first real building rose — under the pastorate of the Reverend A.

Davis. That first sanctuary stood, and served, until 1888, when the congregation looked around and said: we've outgrown these walls. So the original was torn down — not abandoned, not left to rot, torn down — and replaced with a larger building.

And sometime after that, a wooden structure was added to the rear to make room for Sunday School classes. Growing congregation, growing footprint. And then, 1910.

Fire destroyed the church. That word — destroyed — doesn't leave much to the imagination. But this congregation didn't leave much to chance either.

Under the leadership of the Reverend E. W. Solomon, a new building was begun.

It wasn't finished on his watch. That work carried through to 1913, when the building was completed during the pastorate of the Reverend R. W.

Adams. Two pastors, one building — that's the kind of project that outlasts the man who starts it. And then, 1918.

Fire again. Damaged the church a second time. And again, the congregation rebuilt — finished the following year.

Two fires. Multiple buildings. Preachers on circuit before they even had a roof over their heads.

From 1842 forward, the First Methodist Church of Huntsville kept showing up — for its members, and for this community. Some institutions weather storms. This one weathered flames.

Twice. That's not just history. That's character.

What the marker says

Before 1842 Methodists in Huntsville were probably served by itinerant preachers on the Montgomery County circuit. The Texas Methodist Conference appointed The Rev. Henderson B. Palmer as first pastor of the Huntsville church in that year. Records from 1854 indicate 120 members on the roll, but no permanent church was constructed until 1857. The church purchased the land at this site in 1854, with the deed made out to trustees of the church D. J. Ransom, Thomas Gibbs, Robert Wynne, Williamson Wynne, Thomas Bowdre, and their successors. The first sanctuary was erected under the pastorate of The Rev. A. Davis. By 1888 a new building was needed, so the original was torn down and replaced with a larger one. A wooden structure was later added to the rear to provide room for Sunday School classes. In 1910 fire destroyed the church. Under the leadership of The Rev. E. W. Solomon a new building was begun, and was completed in 1913 during the pastorate of The Rev. R. W. Adams. Fire again damaged the church in 1918, and it was rebuilt the following year. Throughout its history, the First Methodist Church of Huntsville has provided significant service and leadership to the community.