Cheatham Memorial United Methodist Church
Edgewood, Van Zandt County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This church grew from services led by a Canton Methodist circuit rider in the late 1870s. The first sanctuary (1 blk. W) was built on land deeded in 1879 by the Texas & Pacific Railroad. Early church buildings were shared with the public school. In 1923 a chapel under construction at this site collapsed, but was rebuilt. With completion of new facilities in 1953, the congregational name was changed, recognizing a gift from Ned Cheatham in memory of his wife Dale (Slaughter). A noted church fund raising program, the "Edgewood Plan", was started here by the Rev. C. W. Lokey. (1981)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This congregation grew from services led by a Methodist circuit rider in the late 1870s, worshiping in a building shared with the public school on land deeded by the Texas & Pacific Railroad. A chapel under construction collapsed in 1923 but was rebuilt, and by 1953 new facilities and a memorial gift prompted a new name. The church also launched a noted fundraising effort known as the 'Edgewood Plan.'
Why it matters
Its story links the railroad, the circuit-riding frontier ministry, and shared church-school buildings that knit early Texas towns together.
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Related people
- · Ned Cheatham
- · C. W. Lokey
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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