DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of the story on the official marker — and this one's got staying power written all over it. A church established in 1872 by Bishop John C. Keener, with the Reverend Alejo Hernandez serving as its very first pastor.
Now, that's a foundation. And a foundation is exactly what this congregation would need, because the road ahead was not a smooth one. The church prospered for a time — it had that early energy, that sense of something taking root in good soil.
Then came the Mexican revolution. Then came the depression. Two of history's heaviest hands, pressing down in succession.
The kind of weight that has buried other congregations without so much as a marker left behind. But this one held. By the late nineteen thirties it was still standing, still gathering, and it had come to be known as the Iglesia Metodista.
Now, a congregation that survives all that deserves something more than survival. It deserves a home worthy of the story it's been livin'. That's where Anna Marietta Kelsey enters.
Born in 1863, she lived until 1953 — ninety years on this earth — and along the way she offered financial help that made it possible for the church to build a new sanctuary right here. On July 4th, 1948, the congregation was renamed Kelsey Memorial Methodist Church, in memory of Anna's parents — John and Amanda Kelsey, noted early residents of Corpus Christi. A new name, a new sanctuary, and a century of hard-won faith underneath it all.
Today, Kelsey Memorial United Methodist Church continues to serve the Hispanic community. Some things, it turns out, are just built to last.
What the marker says
This church was established in 1872 by Bishop John C. Keener. The Rev. Alejo Hernandez served as the first pastor. The church prospered then faltered during the Mexican revolution and depression but survived to become the Iglesia Metodista by the late 1930's. With financial help from Anna Marietta Kelsey (1863-1953) the church built a new sanctuary here, and on July 4, 1948, was renamed Kelsey Memorial Methodist Church in memory of Anna's parents, John and Amanda Kelsey, noted early Corpus Christi residents. Kelsey Memorial United Methodist Church continues to serve the Hispanic community. Esta iglesia fue establecida en 1872 por el Obispo John C. Keener. El Rdo. Alejo Hernandez fue el primer pastor. La iglesia florecio despues decayo, debido a la revolucion Mexicana y la depresion, pero sobrevivio y para los fines de los 1930's fue conocida como la Iglesia Metodista. Con la ayuda financiera de Anna Marietta Kelsey (1863-1953) la iglesia edifico un santuario nuevo y en el 4 de Julio de 1948, fue renombrada Kelsey Memorial Iglesia Metodista en memoria de los padres de Anna, John y Amanda Kelsey, residentes notables anteriormente de Corpus Christi. Kelsey Memorial Iglesia Metodista Unida continua sirviendo a comunidad Hispana. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995.