First United Methodist Church of Paint Rock

 100th Anniversary Edition

Paint Rock, Texas 1891-1991 Sunday, August 25, 1991

First United Methodist Church of Paint Rock Celebrates 100 Years

The First United Methodist Church of Paint Rock anniversary celebration will begin at 9 a. m. Sunday, August 25 with registration in the church vestibule under the direction of Mozelle Bassham.

At 11 o'clock, Cora Ellen Sims Campbell will preside over a program in the church sanctuary, which will include recognition of visiting members and stories about past experiences. Former Pastor Paul Terry will lead the singing.

After the program is concluded, a barbecue lunch will be served in the Educational Building. Serving time is noon until 1:30 p. m. there is no charge for the meal but donations will be accepted to help defray costs.

The main event will begin at 2 p. m. Pastor Mark Deaton is coordinating the afternoon program which includes music by the Lake View choir and organist and Bishop Ernest T. Dixon, Jr. delivering a message prepared for this special occasion.

The daylong celebration will conclude with the opening of the cornerstone and revealing of its contents. Passed down through the years is a list of items believed to have been placed in the stone. The list includes a sealed letter from a young lady, a Bible, barley, corn, a bottle of wine, and names of Masons responsible for laying the cornerstone.

Earliest church Records List Nineteen Members Nineteen

Nineteen names are shown opposite the date of June 19, 1887 in the register of members of the church located in Paint Rock, Concho County, Texas; West Texas Conference; Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They are as follows:

Wm. T. Melton, Mrs. M. F. Melton, Mary Melton, J. F. Cross, Mrs. Cora B. Cross, Mrs. M. A. Rose, W. W. Fowler, Mrs. Ida C. Fowler, Mrs. Sarah Crunk, U. C. Owen, Mrs. Lula Owen, Mrs. Maggie Norman, Mrs. Winnie Howze, B. a. Batterton, Mrs. Ollie Mapes, Miss Josie Edwards, Manuel Tores, Mrs. Annie Anderson and Miss Ada Crunk.

Stained-Glass Windows Add Rich Beauty to the Building

In 1945, after much controversy, stained glass windows were added to the Paint Rock Methodist Church. Traditionalists feared the windows would ruin the appearance of the building. Time has proven otherwise, and the windows have added new beauty to the historical building. The windows ranged in price from $48 to $100 and were purchased in Dallas by Mrs. Louise Hartgrove and Mrs. Jack Houston. Mrs. Scott Hartgrove was scheduled to accompany the other ladies but had to cancel when her mother became ill.

Following is a list of the names placed on the twenty-one-treasured windows:

Mr. & Mrs. J. F. Dodson
Henderson
Rev. John Powell Cope
Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Norman by children
Hartgrove
Mr. & Mrs. J. A. Waide, J. N. Voss
P. W. Williams Family
Hargis
Tomerlin
Hanna
Mr. & Mrs. D. C. Broyles
The J. H.Houstons
D. C. Holman by Mother
Lola Wheatley Campbell
In honor of the Armed Forces By Lt. Co. M. Sansom III
Mr. & Mrs. W. T. Thorn
Ella Le Compte Sims By Ben Sims Children
W. F. Houston Family
Honoring Rev. & Mrs. M. Williamson By the Thompson Family
The Riley Houstons

History Told by Mrs. Waide

Page 5

The following history is reprinted from the golden anniversary edition of The Concho Herald dated October 11, 1940: Time was when I was just a little girl, and we had Sunday School and Church in the building now known as the Willbanks apartment house. The firs Sunday school was organized by Mr. J. W. Ratchford, who was the first superintendent, Mr. Ratchford was faithful to his work as long as he was able to go. The courthouse was built in Paint Rock in 1886, and for a time the second floor was used as a place of worship on Sundays. What a thrill it was in my young live to enjoy the privilege of going to such a beautiful new building to church services. This was a union service, and was attended by all denominations, and the house was full every Sunday. There were some objections to climbing the stairs, so the Ladies Aid Society was organized with the particular object in mind of financing a house especially for church services. My mother, Mrs. J. W. Norman, was a charter member of this organization. I can remember several of the ladies; Grandma Bose was the first president. Some of the other members were: Mrs. D. E. Sims, Mrs. Melton, Mrs. S. O. Crunk, Mrs. M. S. Crunk, Mrs. Swofford, Mrs. Mullins, Mrs. Cushman, Mrs. C. J. Reaves, Mrs. Lewis Proctor, Mrs. Dye, Mrs. Joe Crunk, Mrs Mapes, and perhaps several others whom I have forgotten. The whole town was enthusiastic about the idea of a new chur ch. Oyster suppers were held; ice cream parties, pie suppers and various dinners, quiltings, concerts, bazaars, and every conceivable means of raising money was used, so intense was the interest. The time soon came for the laying of a cornerstone. There was a barbecue, and people from all around were there to witness the laying of the stone. The Masonic Lodge was in charge, assisted by the Knights Templar from Ballinger. They all looked grand in their frock-tailed coats, black velvet hats with white ostrich plumes. It was a great occasion for Paint Rock. I recall the Grand Master putting in a Bible, some barley, corn and wine. Then he asked if anyone had anything they would like to deposit therein before the stone was sealed. A girl, a friend of mine, put in a letter, and a I am still wondering what was in that letter. Then the stone was sealed. On it is carved: Laid by the Grand Masons of Texas, August 26, 1891. Lodge 613, J. W. Norman, builder.

 

Back to Concho County Home Page