Hardin Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Hardin Methodist Church in Liberty County. Now settle in, because this congregation has been through more names, more hammers, and at least one fire than you might expect from a country church on a Texas back road. It all traces back to 1876, when the Reverend J.

R. D. Taylor, born in 1851 and gone by 1882, established a Methodist church out here and called it China Grove.

Folks gathered in a log church building located nearby, the kind of place where the wind found the gaps and the singing had to be loud enough to cover it. Then came 1886, and a chapel went up on land donated by Liberty businessman William F. Hardin, who apparently went by Bee, which is the kind of nickname that sticks whether you like it or not.

That chapel was named Smith's Chapel Methodist Church, in honor of the Reverend John A. Smith, who served as pastor from 1884 to 1886. So the land came from Hardin, and the name went to Smith.

That's just how it went. Time kept moving, and in 1910 the congregation changed the name again, this time landing on Hardin Chapel Methodist Church. And they didn't stop there, because 1910 also brought renovations to the building itself.

By 1916 the congregation was holding regular services and had established a Sunday School. Things were settling in, taking root. A new sanctuary went up in 1939, and that right there is where the story takes a turn.

Because in 1958, that sanctuary was destroyed by fire. Just gone. So the congregation did what Texas congregations do.

They moved services to the Hardin schoolhouse and kept right on going, until a new structure was completed in November of that same year, 1958. Property was deeded in 1960 for a parsonage, and a brick building was soon completed. Then in 1994, additional land adjoining the church property was donated.

From a log building in 1876 to a brick parsonage and a congregation still going strong. China Grove, Smith's Chapel, Hardin Chapel, and finally Hardin Methodist Church. Different names, same stubborn community, still standing.

What the marker says

This congregation traces its history to 1876 when the Reverend J. R. D. Taylor (1851-1882) established a Methodist church named China Grove. Early worship services were held in a log church building located nearby. A chapel was constructed in 1886 on land donated by Liberty businessman William F. "Bee" Hardin. The edifice was named Smith's Chapel Methodist Church in honor of the Reverend John A. Smith, pastor from 1884-86. The church again changed its name and in 1910 became known as Hardin Chapel Methodist Church. Renovations were made to the church building in 1910. The congregation began holding regular services in 1916 and also established a Sunday School. A new sanctuary was erected in 1939, but was destroyed by fire in 1958. Services were held in the Hardin schoolhouse until a new structure was completed in November 1958. Property was deeded in 1960 for a parsonage and a brick building was soon completed. Additional land adjoining the church property was donated in 1994. An integral part of the community, the church remains active as it has for more than 120 years. (1997)