Westwood United Methodist Church
Palestine, Anderson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Westwood United Methodist Church (Holmes Chapel Methodist Church) In November 1883, Harriet Mcclanahan Holmes donated one acre of land to Anderson County and William M. Holmes donated funds for the Holmes Community School, where Minnie Lee Holmes served as the first teacher. In the schoolhouse that year, area residents organized the Holmes Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The Rev. Daniel C. Neel served as the congregation's p. The church outgrew the schoolhouse and built a sanctuary in 1899. At that time, church services were held once a month by the Rev. A. Methvin. The congregation used its second house of worship, located on Holmes Road, until 1948. The church, like the Palestine area, experienced growth due to new industry and a post-war population increase. After selling the Holmes Road property, the congregation worshiped in a large tent while waiting for a new, larger sanctuary, which was completed in 1950. The congregation again outgrew its facilities and added new buildings a decade later. In the 1960s, area school districts consolidated into the Westwood Independent School District. The church, which originally bore the name of the once rural Holmes Chapel School, later changed its name to reflect its place in the community, which had become known as Westwood following school consolidation. During its more than 100 years as a congregation, the Westwood United Methodist Church (Holmes Chapel Methodist Church) has continued to grow, serving its community through its many programs. To commemorate the contributions of families that nourished the growth of the congregation, members over the years have placed memorials around church grounds, continuing the commitment to community and worship made by the founding members in the 1880s. (2003)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In November 1883, Harriet McClanahan Holmes gave an acre of land and William M. Holmes donated funds for the Holmes Community School, where area residents organized the Holmes Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, that same year. The congregation outgrew its schoolhouse in 1899 and built successive sanctuaries as the Palestine area grew through new industry and postwar population increases. When local districts consolidated into Westwood ISD in the 1960s, the church took the community's new name, Westwood United Methodist.
Why it matters
Founded together as a school and a church, this congregation shows how education and worship grew from a single donated acre to anchor a rural Texas community for well over a century.
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Related people
- · Harriet McClanahan Holmes
- · William M. Holmes
- · Minnie Lee Holmes
Themes & tags
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