First United Methodist Church of Albany
Albany, Shackelford County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Oldest congregation in Northwest Texas Conference of Methodist Church. First church of any denomination founded in Shackelford County. Organized in 1873 at ranch home (8 miles East) of J. C. Lynch (1828-1912), a later county judge, after Shackelford was organized in 1874. At the request of Lynch, the Reverend Levi Collins (1827-1912) came here from the Weatherford circuit to meet with pioneers of the Methodist faith. The charter members were Peter, Mollie, and S. A. Gunsolus; Mr. and Mrs. Lynch; Elizabeth and Malinda McNutt. The Reverend William Manly was the first regular minister. By 1882, a small frame church had been erected on Schoolhouse Hill in Albany. After its loss in 1888 tornado, a second church was built on same site (1889), but relocated in 1909 on Main Street. In 1913, under leadership of the Reverend O. P. Clark (born 1881), a red brick building with dome was erected at present site. Its auditorium was resplendent with gas lights, but outside there still hitching racks. Razed 1947, that building was replaced (1948) with present sanctuary and fellowship hall. Educational annex was constructed in 1957, to compete plant. Membership in this church now numbers 334. (1973)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Organized in 1873 at the ranch home of J. C. Lynch, this is the oldest congregation in the Northwest Texas Conference and the first church of any denomination in Shackelford County. Circuit-riding preacher Levi Collins came from Weatherford to gather the frontier Methodists. Over the decades the congregation weathered an 1888 tornado and rebuilt repeatedly, culminating in its present sanctuary.
Why it matters
It marks the arrival of organized religion on the West Texas ranching frontier, where itinerant preachers followed settlers into newly opened counties.
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Related people
- · J. C. Lynch
- · Levi Collins
- · William Manly
Themes & tags
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