First United Methodist Church
Larissa and Bonner Streets
Since the beginning of a settlement called Jacksonville, Methodism has had a part in the development of the community. Methodists of Jacksonville have grown up with a reputation of a pioneering and farsighted congregation.
Methodists took the lead in construction of the first church in old Jacksonville. This church, constructed of logs, was erected sometime between 1847 and 1849. It was built after the old Masonic Lodge building, in which union services were held, collapsed during a well-attended musical program. The log church was small and services were held in it during the winter when congregations were small. When weather permitted, during the spring and summer, services were moved to a brush arbor near Gum Creek to care for the larger crowds. School was also held in the log church.
Jacksonville was first part of the old East Texas Methodist Conference and was in the Rusk circuit, this being int the Sabine District. Rev. Littleton Fowler was presiding elder and Henderson D. Palmer circuit pastor. The Rusk circuit listed 195 white and thirteen negro members in 1845.
By 1852, Jacksonville was in the Trinity District and annual conference was being held at Rusk. It was at this time that Jacksonville became headquarters for a circuit. Circuit membership was 742 white and 75 negro. During this conference, Jacksonville circuit also was moved to the Tyler District.
About 1856, Jacksonville Methodists were finishing their second church, a two-story structure in the north part of the present town, although at that time old Jacksonville still was located about two miles southwest of the present city hall.
The Civil War brought hard times to the area. Rev. E.F. Boone was circuit pastor and he received $600 for his year's work.
The town began moving to the present town site, when it was laid off by the International and Great Northern Railroad in 1872 and there was a need for churches in the new Jacksonville. Methodists built the first, and it was used for four or five years as a Union church, the building being located on Patton Street, about one block west of the present structure.
Several years after the Union church was dissolved, the Methodist congregation bought lots and built a frame building where the present building now stands. Concrete blocks, which form the base structure for the present building, were made on the site. Dr. Isaac Alexander was Jacksonville pastor in 1894, and was instrumental in getting Alexander Collegiate Institute moved here from Kilgore. The students and faculty of this school, which became Lon Morris College in 1924, have played a major role in development of the present church.
With the construction of the present basic structure, the frame building was moved to the college and used as a dining hall until it burned. Worship services were held in the old Ragsdale Opera House, corner of Main and Commerce streets, during construction of the present building.
Cost of the main building was $64,000 with the administration building at Alexander College (the Twin Towers), being built at the same time. During the 1924-26 pastorate of Rev. King Vivian, interior was refinished and major changes made in the dome. In 1938-40, under Rev. Neal Cannon, the educational building was built at a cost of $18,000 and $5,000 was spent on refinishing the main building.
A new parsonage on South Ragsdale Street was purchased in 1949, during Marvin Vance's pastorate, and the old fram parsonage adjacent to the church converted to use as Sunday School rooms. Also during Vance's pastorate, the church received new pews, had the floor carpeted, air-conditioning installed and the carillonic bells installed.
In more recent years, the church purchased a parsonage at 918 John Street, disposing of the South Ragsdale Street property. During the same period, further renovations and additions to the educational plant were made and two parking lots adjacent to the church property provided.
Rev. Robert L. Gilpin presently serves the church as pastor and membership
is in excess of 1,000.
 |
First Methodist Church as it appears today, showing sanctuary, chapel and educational building. |
 |
First Methodist Church built in 1874 in the new Jacksonville. |
 |
Methodist Church built in 1908. |
Compiled by Greg Smith. If you have any materials you'd like to contribute, please email me.