FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
HAMILTON
1850's--
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The first church in Hamilton was the Methodist Church,
now the First United Methodist Church, which was organized in the
1850's. James Rice, a Methodist minister, was appointed by the Texas
Conference, Waco District to minister to the Methodist congregation in
Hamilton in 1856-before Hamilton County was created. About 1870 the Gatesville circuit was created and Rev.
William Monk was appointed to preach in Gatesville,
Hamilton, Indian Creek, and Brownwood.
The church met in the Hamilton
County Courthouse for a number of years, building its first building,
a 30 by 60 foot building, in 1887 on West Main Street when Rev.
W. E. Caperton was pastor. On March 11, 1887 John L. and
Maggie Spurlin sold a parcel of land (Lot No. 8, of Block 2 in the Howard
Addition to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South for $70.
The trustees were George Miller, W. M. Merrill, Thomas H. Deen, J. H.
Abraham, A. A. Mayhew, J. T. Valiant, R. M. Brandon, J. M. Russell, and A.
M. Mayhew.
Thomas H. Deen was Sunday School
superintendent for 25 years, retiring about 1895. When ministers were not
available Deen was called upon to bury the dead. In 1898 when Rev.
A. P. Smith was pastor, the church building was enlarged. The present
sanctuary was built in 1924 and has had several extensive remodelings. An
educational building was erected in 1953. The interior of the church was
remodeled and modernized in 1961. In September, 1979, a $180,000
remodeling project was completed.
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