Allison Chapel United Methodist Church
Carthage, Panola County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The Rev. Littleton Fowler, an early Methodist missionary in East Texas, is believed to have organized this congregation between 1837 and 1839. Land for the first sanctuary, now the site of Old Williams Cemetery (1 mi. W), was donated by Purviance Williams. The congregation was originally known as Bethesda Church, but the name was later changed to honor Samuel G. Allison, who gave land for the present building site in 1882. Traditionally, Allison Chapel United Methodist Church has been considered the oldest active church in Panola County.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The Rev. Littleton Fowler, an early Methodist missionary in East Texas, is believed to have organized this congregation between 1837 and 1839, when Texas was a young republic. First called Bethesda Church, it worshiped on land given by Purviance Williams before taking its present name to honor Samuel G. Allison, who donated the building site in 1882. Tradition holds it the oldest active church in Panola County.
Why it matters
Circuit-riding Methodist missionaries like Fowler planted the first churches on the Texas frontier, and this congregation's long life links the Republic era to the present day.
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Related people
- · Littleton Fowler
- · Samuel G. Allison
- · Purviance Williams
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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Ebenezer United Methodist Church
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This congregation gathered in 1843 at Old Macedonia, three years before Panola County existed and while Texas was still an independent republic. It likely grew from the circuit-riding labors of the Rev. Littleton Fowler, one of the earliest Protestant ministers in the Republic of Texas. In 1872 a gift of land from John Henry Ross brought church, school, and cemetery together at this site, where the congregation has anchored rural life for well over a century.
Isaac R. Youngblood
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Born about 1793, Isaac R. Youngblood moved from Georgia to Texas before 1846 and became a Panola County pioneer, helping lay out local roads as an overseer. In 1858 he deeded two acres here for a school and church, granting use of a nearby spring as well. Tradition holds that he died after falling into his 90-foot well and was buried in an unmarked grave.