United Methodist Church of Fairy

Duane's take

The way I tell it, I'm drawing straight from the official marker for the United Methodist Church of Fairy, Hamilton County. Now let me set the scene. Out in a little Hamilton County community called Fairy, there is a church with a story that starts with a name worth savoring.

Martin's Gap Methodist Mission. That was the name on the charter, signed and official on July 3, 1886, under the Reverend J. S.

Moore presiding. The charter members, the founding souls who put their names to this thing, were Mr. and Mrs. B.

F. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Steward, Lee Anderson, and Mesdames Hattie Chenault, G.

W. Goyne, Lou Harvey, and J. S.

Moore. A small circle of people, gathered in purpose, and about to do something that would last. Now here is where the story gets its texture.

That first year, a church building went up. Not a plan for a building, not a hope for one. An actual building, erected in the first year.

And the land for it, along with land for a parsonage, was given by a local settler named Captain Battle Fort. That is a name, by the way, that could anchor any story it wandered into. Captain Battle Fort, giving ground so a community could have a house of worship.

By 1888, just two years in, the membership had climbed to one hundred and twenty-two. From a small charter circle to a congregation of that size, in two years. That is not a slow burn.

That is a community deciding, all at once, that this is their place. The original building served its purpose faithfully. Then, in 1920, it was replaced by the structure standing there today.

And here is the line on the marker that I want you to sit with. Continuous services have been held here since the church's founding. Not most Sundays.

Not nearly always. Continuous. From July of 1886 straight through to the present day, unbroken.

Captain Battle Fort gave the land, a handful of charter members gave their names, and a community out in Hamilton County gave its dedication. Fairy, Texas never stopped showing up.

What the marker says

First church organized in Fairy. Chartered as "Martin's Gap Methodist Mission" on July 3, 1886, under the Rev. J. S. Moore. Charter members were Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Steward, Lee Anderson, and Mesdames Hattie Chenault, G. W. Goyne, Lou Harvey, and J. S. Moore. Church building was erected first year, land for it and a parsonage being given by Capt. Battle Fort, local settler. In 1888 membership was 122. In 1920 original building was replaced by present structure. Continuous services have been held here since the church's founding.