Meadow United Methodist Church
Meadow, Terry County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Methodist worship services were held in this area as early as 1904 by the Rev. J. A. Sweeney, a pioneer West Texas circuit rider. On Feb. 1, 1920, the Rev. J. W. Baughman formally organized this congregation with 17 charter members. Services were held in the schoolhouse or in the Baptist church building until the members built their own sanctuary in 1922. The Meadow Methodist Church was long associated with the Plains Circuit, serving for a time as its headquarters. The congregation welcomed its first full-time pastor in 1951. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Methodist services reached this corner of West Texas as early as 1904 through pioneer circuit rider the Rev. J. A. Sweeney, and in 1920 the Rev. J. W. Baughman formally organized the congregation with seventeen charter members. Worshippers met in the schoolhouse and the Baptist church until they built their own sanctuary in 1922. Long tied to the Plains Circuit, the church welcomed its first full-time pastor in 1951.
Why it matters
The congregation's growth mirrors the settling of the South Plains, where circuit riders served scattered farming communities well into the 20th century.
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Related people
- · Rev. J. A. Sweeney
- · Rev. J. W. Baughman
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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