First United Methodist Church of Waller
Waller, Waller County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The Waller Methodist Episcopal Church, South, traces its history to 1888, the year it was first mentioned in regional Methodist conference records. Early members included Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Brown, Lawton M. and Sallie Bouknight and Simeon P. and Sarah J. White with their daughters, Grace and Carrie. Church trustees John Whitaker and Cary Mason purchased land in anticipation of the construction of a Methodist church building, but none was ever erected on that site. The congregation met in Waller School at Pine and Cherry streets and a Methodist Sunday School was led by Grace and Carrie White in the Baptist church facility. The Methodist church's first building was completed in 1906 at the corner of Farr and Bois d'Arc streets, but it was destroyed by a tornado two years later. It was rebuilt at the same location in 1909. Ella King and three other church women organized a women's society in 1911. The church building was devastated by another tornado in 1917, and a new building was erected at the corner of Smith and Cherry streets in 1920. From 1920 to 1940 the Methodists alternated church services with Waller Baptists. Each congregation was served twice a month by circuit riding ministers. In 1940 each church began to hold services every Sunday. The 1920 church building was sold and moved in 1961. A modern facility was erected that year, and its debt was paid by 1975. First United Methodist Church of Waller continues in the traditions of its founders with programs of worship and service such as the Ministerial Alliance, an ecumenical group dedicated to aiding community members in need. (2000)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This Methodist congregation first appears in regional conference records in 1888, its early membership a handful of founding families who at first worshipped in the Waller School and shared facilities with the town's Baptists. Its first building went up in 1906 only to be destroyed by a tornado two years later, rebuilt, then wrecked by a second tornado in 1917 before a new church rose in 1920. For two decades the Methodists and Baptists shared circuit-riding ministers, and church women—beginning with a society organized in 1911—helped sustain the congregation through repeated rebuilding.
Why it matters
The church's story of tornadoes, shared ministers, and women's organizing captures how small Texas congregations persevered and cooperated to keep faith and community alive.
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Related people
- · Grace White
- · Carrie White
- · Ella King
Themes & tags
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