First United Methodist Church of Hebbronville
Hebbronville, Jim Hogg County, Texas
Marker Inscription
THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF HEBBRONVILLE WAS ESTABLISHED AT A MEETING BETWEEN REV. C.W. PERKINS AND SIX TOWNSPEOPLE AT MRS. RALPH McCAMPBELL’S RANCH ON DECEMBER 12, 1912. FOR 15 YEARS, SERVICES WERE HELD IN COOPERATION WITH THE LOCAL BAPTIST CHURCH IN A SCHOOLHOUSE ON SMITH STREET. IN 1917, MR. AND MRS. HENRY EDDS PURCHASED THREE LOTS FROM VIGGO KOEHLER AND DONATED THE LAND TO THE METHODIST AND BAPTIST CHURCHES. A CHURCH BUILDING WAS COMPLETED ON THE PROPERTY IN 1927 AND THE W.W. JONES EDUCATIONAL BUILDING WAS ADDED IN 1950. FOR 100 YEARS, THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HAS SERVED THE CITIZENS OF HEBBRONVILLE AND CONTINUES TO BE A BEACON OF LIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The First United Methodist Church of Hebbronville was organized in December 1912 at Mrs. Ralph McCampbell's ranch, in the heart of South Texas cattle country. For fifteen years its members worshiped alongside the local Baptists in a schoolhouse, until the Edds family donated land for a shared church, completed in 1927. For a century it has served as a beacon for this ranching community.
Why it matters
Founded on a working ranch, the church reflects how faith communities took root across the sparsely settled ranchlands of South Texas.
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Related people
- · C.W. Perkins
- · Henry Edds
- · Viggo Koehler
Themes & tags
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