Follett United Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say, so take it straight from the source. Now, every good Texas church story starts before the church itself does, and this one is no different. Way back in the early pioneer days of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle, there were no buildings, no pews, no steeples catching the morning light.

What there were, were circuit riders. Ministers on horseback, if you can picture it. Men who took the word of God on the road, literally, riding out to wherever the pioneers had put down roots, however temporary those roots might be.

That's the kind of country this was. Wide, windswept, and not yet settled enough to hold still. But people of faith have a way of gathering anyway.

And gather they did. Up in north Ivanhoe, Oklahoma, in 1903, a group of rural residents came together and formed the Ivanhoe Methodist Church, led by a reverend by the name of G.L. Hayes.

That's where the story begins. Not in Texas yet, mind you. Not even close to Follett.

But give it time. This congregation was going places, literally. In 1911, the town itself relocated.

Moved right on down to south Ivanhoe, and the congregation went with it, holding services at the Stillwater School, which sat near the Texas border. Now they were getting closer. Then 1917 arrives, and the congregation made one more move, this time crossing into the newly-formed town of Follett, Texas, right there near the border and close to the railroad.

They found a home for their worship in the F.J. Birdsall building, a place that would later be known as the E.E. King garage.

Which, I'll say this, is one of the more memorable addresses in Methodist history. By 1918, they broke ground on a new basement building. And for five years, the whole congregation worshipped down in that basement, Sunday after Sunday, until the membership simply outgrew the space.

That's the thing about a living church. It keeps growing. So they raised funds, and in 1924, they built a modern structure with a proper sanctuary and classrooms.

A real building for a congregation that had been moving and growing and worshipping in basements and borrowed spaces for over two decades. Then 1961 brought yet another chapter: a new building on highway 15, this one with a fellowship hall, a kitchen, and a pastor's study. Over the full course of the church's life, sixty-two ministers have served this congregation and the surrounding community.

And here's the number that really makes you stop: despite a membership of less than one hundred, this little church has reached not just Follett and Lipscomb County, but international communities as well, through youth programs, financial support, and local and foreign mission work. Since 1903. One congregation, three states and towns, a dozen buildings, sixty-two ministers, and an impact bigger than the headcount ever suggested.

That's the Follett United Methodist Church. Small in number, long in miles, and still going.

What the marker says

In the early pioneer days of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle, circuit riders (ministers on horseback) provided pioneers with church services. In north Ivanhoe, Oklahoma, in 1903, a group of rural residents gathered to form the Ivanhoe Methodist Church, led by reverend G.L. Hayes. In 1911, the town relocated to south Ivanhoe and began to hold services at the Stillwater School located near the Texas border. In 1917, the church congregation relocated to the newly-formed town of Follett, Texas, located near the border and close to the railroad. Church worship services were held in the F.J. Birdsall building, later known as the E.E. King garage. By 1918, the congregation broke ground on a new basement building. Many people worshipped in the church basement for five years until membership outgrew the space. Fundraising allowed the church to build a modern structure in 1924 with a sanctuary and classrooms. In 1961, a new building was constructed on highway 15 with a fellowship hall, kitchen and pastor's study. Over the last century, sixty-two ministers served the church and community. Throughout the years, the Follett United Methodist Church has played an important role in serving the local area through the support of youth programs, financial support, and local and foreign mission work. Despite membership of less than one hundred, the church's outreach has impacted local and international communities since 1903. (2017)