History of Patrick's Chapel Contributed by Jean Caddel Over sixty years ago, A. T.  and Martha Miller began to search for a suitable place for worship in the area near their home five miles northwest of Waxahachie. When  Captain Patrick heard of this, he donated two acres of land for the building of a church which would be centrally located between the Sardis, Long Branch, Valley Grove and Waxahachie vicinities. The deed was recorded in April 1892. The building of the church was supervised by John Grimes, a skilled carpenter from the Long Branch neighborhood, assisted by men from the surrounding area.   The first service was held on Nov. 1892, before the building was completed. The name, Patrick's Chapel, was chosen and the Rev. R. D. Whiteside conducted the first service.  Charter members were:  the Millers, McCartneys, Walcotts, Pattons, Byrums, Kirks, Fustons, Grimes, Robnetts and Jones. During the summer months, the church sponsored arbor mission meetings in nearby communities . Contributions  made were sent to Brother Bishop, then in Japanese territory  and also used for] daily necessities. The building was destroyed by a cyclone in May 1917.  On the Sunday after the storm, Rev. Charles E. Robertson held services in the Valley Grove school building.  John Grimes, assisted by J. B. Burnes, Jim Gibson and J. R. Brown, laid a foundation for a new church, and worship services soon were held on a regular basis.   During the building of a new church, an arbor was erected on the church grounds where services continued until the new building was completed.  The first sermon in the new church was preached by Rev. O. A. Galley. After sixty-four years of good work in Patrick's Chapel Church, in 1946 it was deemed best to move  it to Waxahachie.  The building was torn down and re-constructed into what is now known as the South Side Church.  In addition to Revs. Wnhiteside, Elingman, Galley and Robertson, other ministers serving the church were Revs. Taut, Wallace, Farmer, Sterman, Starnes, German, Thurman, Dunne, Barrett, J. B. Nelson, N. C. McCormick, Lon Reeves, A. C. Miller and T. S. Tedlie.  Assistant ministers and teachers include Sam Pogue, Hugh Miller, Marvin Grimes, Clarence Bryant, Dr. E. F. Gough and Carl A. Gardner. At a recent annual reunion, held in Getzendaner Park, one hundred and thirty-five persons registered from all over the state. Dr. Tate Miller of Dallas,  was the main speaker. Mrs. Jeff Kirk was the oldest member present with 49 of her family also in attendance.  Persons who came the greatest distance were the Jim Lovell family and Mrs. Jessie Peaster. Mrs. Bert Hickman wrote the history of the church  (as given above) from information supplied by Mrs. John Bunch and Mrs. Jeff Kirk. [compiled for Reunion of Members] A history of Patrick Chapel,  an early church in this area, was the highlight of the morning program at a recent annual reunion of members of the church and their descendants at Getzendaner Memorial Park. Annual attendance records were broken at the event. Hal Curry gave the opening prayer and the welcome address. Mrs. John Bunch presented the history of Patrick Chapel. An address by Dr. Tate Miller, of Dallas, on "Gleanings of a Doctor's Philosophy on Good Health and long Life," was followed by reading a selected poem by Mrs. Bert Hickman. John Jackson gave the closing prayer. After lunch, red, white and blue badges with prizes were awarded for the oldest member present,  (Mrs. Jeff Kirk)  and the youngest member present, ( the four-months-old daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Jessie D. Clark). Mrs. Kirk received first prize with 49 members present, and the Hudson family received the second prize with 30 representatives. Awards to persons coming the greatest distance went to the Jim Lovell family and to Mrs. Jessie Feaster. One hundred and thirty-five registered for the reunion from Plainview, Panhandle, Arlington, Dallas, Lancaster, Crandall, Fort Worth, Midlothian, Italy, Boyce and other near-by communities. Otis Matthews was elected chairman of the 1957 maintenance committee. Houston Hudson, general chairman and president of the reunion organization, will serve with the program committee for this year composed of Mrs. Hickman, chairman, Mrs. Bunch, Mrs. Roy Reynelds and Mrs. Edgar Holland. The following history of the church, written by Mrs. Bert Hickman,  was compiled from facts supplied by Mrs. John Bunch and Mrs. Jeff Kirk. "Come sixty-four years ago, A. T. Miller, with his wife, Martha, blazed the trail in searching out a suitable place of worship in the rural area near their country home five miles northwest of Waxahachie. "Captain Patrick, citizen and land owner in this community, heard of this crusade and donated two acres of land upon which the church building was to be erected. This was a central location between the Sardis, Long Branch, Valley Grove and Waxahachie vicinities. The deed went on record Apr. 10, 1892. "John Grimes, a skilled carpenter of the Long Branch neighborhood, supervised the construction of the building. He was assisted by men from miles around. On Nov. 10, 1892, prior to the completion of the building, a group of early Christians assembled upon the first day of the week for their first service. Tom Robnett saw that the first fire was made and that everyone was made comfortable. "The name Patrick Chapel was chosen to designate the home-site of church and the local community. The Rev. R. L. Whiteside, an able minister, opened the first service with a stirring gospel sermon. The growth and progress of the church reflected much of his stability as a contender for the Truth. "Charter members, enrolled at this time were: The Millers, McCartneys, Walcotts, Pattons, Byrums, Kirks, Fustons, Grimes, Robnetts, Jones. "The church engaged in mission meetings in nearby communities. Since this was the horse and buggy days, camp meetings under improvised arbors were held in the summer months. Contributions were sent to Brother Bishop, who was then in Japanese territory. Daily necessities were taken care of as the need arose. On a Friday evening in May, 1917 between 5 and 6 o'clock, the building was blown down by a cyclone. Again John Grimes, assisted by J. B. Burns, Jim Gibson and J. H. Brown, laid the foundation for a new church. With the help of brethren and friends, worship services were soon resumed as usual. The Rev. Charles H. Robertson filled his appointment the Sunday after the storm in the Valley Grove school house. "During the building period, an arbor was erected on the church grounds. Rev. Klingman held a meeting at this time. Services continued under the arbor until the building was completed. Rev. O. A. Calley preached the first sermon in the new building. "Sixty-four years of good and profitable work was spent during the existence of the Patrick Chapel Church. In 1945 the hands of time intervened and it was thought best to move the church to Waxahachie. This was done and the building was torn down and constructed into a building known now as the South Side Church. Today enrolled in Waxahachie and many churches over the land are those whose faith has helped spread the gospel." "Over the years, ministers serving the church, in addition to the Revs. Whiteside, Klingman, Calley and Robertson, include the Revs. Taut, Wallace, Farmer, Sterman, Starnes, German, Thurman, Dunns, Barrett, J. B. Nelson, E. C. McCormick, Lon Reeves, A. C. Miller and Tillie S. Tedlie. Assistant ministers and teachers were Pogue, Huge Miller, Marvin Grimes, Clarence Bryant, Dr. E. F. Gough and Carl A. Gardner. [Source;  Article in Waxahachie Daily Light, Thursday, July 12, 1956]    Copyright © 2003-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:16:09 MDT