FRISCO UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
A HISTORY OF FRISCO,
TEXAS
As early as 1837 missionaries were sent out from the
Mississippi Conference to the Republic of Texas. Methodism did not take from in
Texas until 1840, when the Texas Conference was organized at Ruterville in
Washington County. In 1844 the Texas Conference was divided into the Texas
Conference and the East Texas Conference, the Trinity River being the dividing
line. In 1866 the East Texas Conference was divided into the East Texas and
Trinity Conferences. Then, in 1874 the name of the Trinity Conference was
changed to the North Texas Conference. Thus, our beginning.
In the meantime, settlers from the various states had been coming into Texas,
many of them settling in what is now Frisco, and Collin County. Try to visualize
the abundant grass lands, with here and there a settler's crude house and other
buildings for the protection and maintenance of the family. The roads were mere
winding trails from farm to farm. Also, can you imagine how impassable they must
have become in a rainy season?
Rev. Joab Biggs, a pioneer Methodist preacher, organized Bethel Church in July,
1848. He was born in North Carolina of Primitive Baptist parentage. He was
converted and joined the Mississippi Conference. He moved to Arkansas and came
to Texas with the Culwell family in 1846, settling in what later became Collin
County.
Rev. Biggs organized Bethel Church in the home (a log cabin) of William Rogers,
two and one half miles north of where Frisco is now. There were five members.
They were William and Francis Rogers, Peter and Sarah Teel, and Elizabeth
Rogers, wife of Clayton Rogers and mother of Joe B. and Dr. I. S. Rogers. (Dr.
Rogers being the father of Mrs. Claud (Viola) Clark.)
The first few years, the church services were held in a log cabin belonging to
William Rogers. He gave 2 acres of land as a building site. The membership
decided to erect a building 16 x 24 ft. Not having any funds, they went to Elm
Creek and hewed out timbers for framing, and rived out boards for the roof and
siding, using wooden pegs as nails. The floor was of dirt and split logs were
used as benches. For several years there were no heating facilities. Then a 4
ft. fire place was built, using rocks for the chimney.
The second church, from the best authority, was started in 1859. Again the
timbers for framing were hewed from trees on Elm Creek. Cottonwood shingles were
used. The siding was hauled from the pine mills in East Texas. Before this
building was completed, in the spring of 1860, a storm blew it away. These
sturdy pioneers knew no defeat and set in to erect a larger building, this one
being 30 x 40 ft. Boxing planks were used as a floor. This building was not
completed until after the Civil War. It was used until 1882.
Pioneer citizens tell of the camp meetings held near Bethel Church prior to and
after the Civil War. In 1874, Joseph B. Rogers, A. P. Rogers' grandfather, gave
10 acres of land adjoining the church property for camp meeting purposes. This
was, also, used as a place for the annual revival meetings. An old fashioned
brush arbor was used at first. It was build by the members. In 1888 a commodious
shed, 40 x 60 ft., was constructed. It was used until 1901.
These camp meetings marked the turning point in the spiritual life of many, many
people. The influence was felt for miles around. These meetings would last 10 to
15 days. There would, at times, be as many as 40 or 50 families in the camp.
Frequently there would be as many as a thousand people at the services.
Sometimes as many as 25 conversions resulted from a single service.
The day usually began with a sunrise prayer meeting, experience meeting a 9
o'clock, preaching at 11:00, preaching again at 3:00, grove meeting at sundown,
then preaching again at early candlelight.
In 1873, Joseph B. Rogers gave 3 acres of land on which to build a parsonage. A
little later the first home for the Methodist preacher was built near the
Church. This was on land now known as A. P. Rogers farm.
Rev. Wm. Allen, in the early 1870's, assisted by the church membership, erected
a building for school purposes. In 1882, it was turned to the church to be used
for worship. It was used until 1902.
In February 1902, a few months after the completion of the railroad, a town lot
sale was held at the newly established town of Frisco. The church trustees, with
Rev. Allen as chairman bought 2 lots at the corner of 6th and Oak Streets, the
present location of the Church. The Bethel Church was wrecked and the materials
used in th first church built in Frisco, a building some 40 x 60 ft. in size. It
was at this time that Bethel Methodist Church Became Frisco Methodist Church. p.
228
Historical marker, 1994.
FRISCO METHODIST CHURCH
AREA FRONTIER SETTLERS WILLIAM AND FRANCES ROGERS,
PETER AND SARAH TEEL, AND ELIZABETH ROGERS, AND THE
REV. JOAB BIGGS, A METHODIST CIRCUIT-RIDING MINISTER,
ORGANIZED THIS CONGREGATION IN WILLIAM ROGERS’ LOG
HOME IN 1848. KNOWN AS BETHEL METHODIST CHURCH, THE
SMALL RURAL CONGREGATION ERECTED ITS FIRST SANCTUARY
IN 1852 ON LAND DONATED BY WILLIAM ROGERS.
A SCHOOL BUILDING ERECTED BY THE CHURCH IN THE EARLY
1870S WAS CONVERTED FOR USE AS A SANCTUARY IN 1882. IN
1874 JOSEPH ROGERS DONATED LAND ON WHICH THE CHURCH
HELD CAMP MEETINGS THAT BECAME SUCH LARGE EVENTS
THAT A LARGE SHED WAS BUILT AT THE SITE IN 1888.
IN 1902 THE CHURCH MOVED HERE TO THE NEW RAILROAD
TOWN OF FRISCO, ERECTED A SANCTUARY AT A DOWNTOWN
LOCATION, AND CHANGED ITS NAME TO FRISCO METHODIST
CHURCH. A NEW BRICK SANCTUARY WAS COMPLETED IN 1915.
THE CONGREGATION CHANGED ITS NAME TO FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH OF FRISCO IN 1968. IN 1982, AFTER 80
YEARS OF SERVING FRISCO FROM ITS DOWNTOWN FACILITIES,
THE CONGREGATION ERECTED A NEW SANCTUARY AT THIS SITE
TO SERVE ITS GROWING MEMBERSHIP. OVER THE YEARS THE
CONGREGATION HAS EXPANDED ITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO SERVE THE AREA WITH VARIOUS
GROUP ACTIVITIES AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
BETHEL-FRISCO METHODIST CHURCH SUNDAY
SCHOOL
Historical marker application.
The first
written record of our Sunday School is found in the Quarterly Conference minutes
of January 25, 1873. Beverly L. Rogers was then Superintendent. There was a
Sunday School prior to this date, however, of which J. A. Rogers served as
superintendent. In 1873 the Sunday School had five teachers and seventy-five
pupils.
The following men have served the Frisco Sunday School as superintendents at Old
Bethel and later Frisco, after the church was moved to the latter place: J. A.
Rogers, B. L. Rogers, A. J. Gunstream, O. L. Hamilton, Dr. R. L. Douglas, Ed
Jackson, Byron Smith, H. L. McConnell, W. S. Bowers, B. A. Marcom, J. H. Houser,
W. A. Brewer, S. F. Cooper, Murrell Rogers, James Brooks, James Marion, Cal
Wester, Tracy King, W. L. Waldsmith, Isabel Sem, Kay Kelsey and David Brooks to
present.
Frisco
Churches Index
- Recommended citation:
- "Frisco Methodist Church,
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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