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History
of Cherokee First United Methodist Church We
have no written record of a Methodist Church in Cherokee before 1893. However,
S. W. Walker, a Methodist lay preacher, purchased land in Cherokee in 1852. We
also have records of other Methodists who came about that time.
Our first
record of a Methodist Church is a deed given by R.C. and Frances Thaxton to the
Cherokee Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1893. This deed designated one acre
of land on which a church was to be built. The congregation erected a large one-room
building with cupola and bell to announce church meetings in the town. In later
years the entire building was renovated and modernized. Two small classrooms were
cut off from the sanctuary. The heavy pews are hand made.
In
1894 Mr. and Mrs. Thaxton deeded to the Cherokee Methodist Church another acre
of land adjacent to the church on which was built a parsonage which was home for
the minister and his family until 1930. It was then rented to individuals until
it was sold in 1976. It has since been torn down and the land was aquired by the
Cherokee school.
In
about 1912 the Methodists acquired Cherokee Junior College. Many Methodists in
adjacent counties sent their young people to the college where they could have
Christian associates in the college and in the college dormitories. Many young
men attended collere there to prepare themselves for the ministry. During these
years the church flourished. In 1920 the college building and grounds were sold
to the Cherokee School Board.
About
1940 Cherokee Methodist Church acquired the Methodist church building at Mayes
Chapel. The building was torn down and the lumber transported to the Cherokee
church yard where a stone annex was built, consisting of a kitchen and two adjoining
rooms and restrooms. A sofa, two rocking chairs, and a dining table were transferred
to the annex from the parsonage when it was rented.
We
have an old record book containing conference records from 1888 to 1902. According
to the official roll, it was Cherokee Charge, Llano District, West Texas Conference.
I.K. Waller was Presiding Elder, J.D. Worrell assistant. Local preachers were
J.R. Ragsdale, S.W. Waller, J.R. Smelser, H.M. Matthis, and R.W. Waldren. This
report included the churches at Cherokee, Harrell Chapel, Colony, and Wallace
Creek.
We
have had many dedicated pastors serving us. From 1892-1900, J.D. Worrell was pastor
in charge. 1900-1902, C.W. Godwin was pastor. Until 1921 there is no information
on pastors. At that time Cherokee Methodist Church had a large congregation. The
reverend Belcher was pastor. He was followed by the Reverends Jones and Betts.
Later preachers were Banks, Lewis, Martinson, Ira Belcher, D.G. Hardt, Harrell,
Irvin Jordan, Johnson, W.P. Anderson, J.M. McDonald. The preacher who served Cherokee
the longest was Bill White, who was pastor and everybody's friend for 17 years.
Frank Paxton
served for an untold number of years as Sunday School Superintendent, trustee,
and steward of the church. T.G. Kuykendall, often called "Mr. Methodist,"
served as Sunday School Superintendent for 40 years. He also served as trustee
and steward.
In
recent years, Cherokee Methodist Church has been connected with Art, Lometa, San
Saba, and now Valley Spring Methodist Churches. Recent pastors have been Howard
Johnson, 1973-1981; Charles Walker, 1981-1982; Beth Hawkins, 1982-1984; Ben Bohmfalk,
June-November, 1984; Roger Burtner, December 1984-1986; Sherri Fremming, 1986-1987;
Lynn Barton, 1986-1988; John Reynold, 1988-1992; Keith Robinson, 1992-1995; Charlotte
Graham, 1995-1998; Fred Lauten, 1998-2001; and Jason Teague, 2001-2002; Don Howell
- Present.
Article
Provided by Connie Lynn Perry
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