Midlothian Presbyterian Church
Midlothian, Ellis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1911, two congregations merged to form Midlothian Presbyterian Church. One originally organized in 1883 under Pastor D. G. Malloy and was part of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA). The other organized in 1890 under the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS). Members of the newly merged church built a sanctuary from 1913-14. The congregation has a history of supporting the community, including helping with Manna House, a cooperative venture among Midlothian churches aiding needy families. Members have also focused on missions on a national and global scale. Today, the church continues to be a beacon of light for the residents of Midlothian. (2010)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In the decades after the Civil War, American Presbyterianism was split between a northern branch (PCUSA) and a southern one (PCUS), and small Texas towns often supported a congregation of each. Midlothian brought its two together in 1911, and the united congregation raised a sanctuary just before the First World War. Generations of members have anchored the town through cooperative charities like Manna House and through national and global mission work.
Why it matters
Congregations like this were among the first institutions to bind together a young Texas farm town, offering worship, charity, and continuity as the community grew.
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Related people
- ยท D. G. Malloy
Themes & tags
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