Lee Tabernacle Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna give it to you straight off the Texas Historical Commission's own words. Now settle in, because this congregation has been around long enough to watch Navasota grow from the ground up. It starts in 1860, when a Methodist congregation was founded, and in those early days they weren't proud enough to be picky.

They shared facilities with the Baptist church, right there in Navasota. Two denominations, one roof. You can imagine the conversations.

Then 1866 rolls around, and the congregation raised a proper church building in a place folks were calling Freeman's Town. That alone is a story worth sitting with for a moment. The formally organized, by-the-book Methodist group didn't come together until 1876, and a few years after that they built themselves a separate facility.

But the building standing today, the one the marker's talking about, that one went up in 1896. Now here's a detail that I love. During construction, the congregation held services down in the basement while the sanctuary above them was still taking shape.

They weren't waiting on four walls and a finished ceiling to worship. When the structure was completed and the congregation looked up at what they'd built, they changed the name of the church to honor the pastor serving at that time, the Reverend Edward Lee. And just like that, it became the Lee Tabernacle Methodist Church.

Over the years the interior saw changes. The stained glass windows were restored, a choir room was added, general remodeling was done, and a parsonage was added to accommodate the pastor. But the exterior, all that Gothic revival character, the arched windows, the tower entry, the stained glass, the double wood paneled doors, the gabled roof, that part has stayed essentially intact.

More than a hundred and thirty years in the Navasota community, and Lee Tabernacle is still serving its members. Some things, you just don't walk away from.

What the marker says

This Methodist congregation was founded in 1860, and worshipped with the Baptist church in shared facilities in Navasota. A church building was erected in 1866 in what was called "Freeman's Town." The Methodist group was formally organized in 1876, and built a separate facility a few years later. This church building was erected in 1896. During construction, services were held in the basement until the sanctuary was finished. When the structure was completed, the congregation changed its name to honor the pastor at that time, The Rev. Edward Lee, becoming the Lee Tabernacle Methodist Church. Interior modifications have occurred over the years, including the restoration of the stained glass windows, the addition of a choir room, and general remodeling, but the exterior remains essentially intact. A parsonage was added to accommodate the pastor. This church structure is a fine example of a Gothic revival design, featuring arched windows, a tower entry, stained glass windows, double wood paneled doors, and a gabled roof. The Lee Tabernacle Methodist Church continues to serve its dedicated members as it has for over 130 years in the Navasota community.