First
Methodist Church of Celina
Oct 1915. by John
Stallcup
The Methodist
Church was organized in 1869 at the Union School house which was built on the
East part of the present town site. Rev. George Gatewood was the pastor and
organizer with about 18 or 20 charter members. None of which are living today
that we know of and only five of their children that we can call to mind belong
to our church today at this place. Those names are as follows: Mrs. Anna Mann,
Mrs. J. C. Ousley, J. A. Biggs, J. W. Willock and John Stallcup.
Rev. Geo.
Gatewood by some people might not have been called a great preacher but as we
look back, we consider him a great preacher, from the fact he was a great soul
winner. He held one camp meeting on this circuit which we were permitted to
attend, when there were sixty conversions, which was a great meeting in a thinly
settled country. Not only was he great in that but he was great in the length
of time he preached as a traveling preacher. He was 49 years in the conference
a traveling preacher and begged for one more year that he could have it go on
record that he traveled and preached a half a century in the conference. But he
was deigned the privilege. Unfortunate for Bro. Gatewood, he was very
forgetful. Often while dining with his flock he would put the napkins in his
pocket, forgetting to return them to the table, which was a great inconvenience
to the sisters.
Our church
worshiped about twelve years in the old union school house, which was used also
by the other churches here at that time. In 1881, after a very hard pull they
decided to build a church known as the Union Church, which was build on the East
part of the present town site. The land was donated for the first school house,
and the first church by Quincy Case and Wife, who was believer in education and
Christianity. Although at that time he was not a Christian, but his wife was.
The Union Church was build while Reverent L. P. Smith was Pastor. He was a
young man full of energy, and is still preaching in the North Texas Conference.
While we built in the country, in 1900 the town moved to us, instead of us
moving to town. We worshiped 28 years in the Union Church. In 1909 under the
pastorate of F. O. Miller, they decided to build the present church. There was
considerable objection among the older members to a change in location. As they
were very much attached to the old location. After considerable argument and
friction among the members, a majority favored moving to a more central part of
town.
Many pastors
have served us faithfully, since our organization, to many to mention, and some
even whose names we have forgot. Many have gone to their reward as well as the
hundreds of faithful members, who have come and gone, and many of them to their
reward up higher. The memory of many of these are still very precious to us.
Our membership today for those we can account for is about 230 or 240. Which
there is about 40 more we don't know much as to where they are. If these 240 or
faithful, there can be much good accomplished while they live, and a great
reward will await them if they are faithful to the end.
submitted by Herb Cunningham
Churches Index
- Recommended citation:
- "First Methodist Church of
Celina,
Collin County Churches," Collin County, Texas History and Genealogy Webpage
by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13 13:37:28 US/Central 2004 ].
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