Starrville Methodist Church - Starrville, TX
N 32° 28.197 W 095° 06.911
15S E 301216 N 3594498
The Starrville Methodist Church is at 17339 FM 16 E, in what remains of Starrville, almost four miles east of Winona, TX. Sunday services are at 10:30 AM, and Wednesday Bible study is at 7 PM.
Waymark Code: WM11DXE
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/04/2019
Views: 1
Starrville was once one of the most populated communities in Smith County, but due to the inhabitants being rather insular when the railroad came looking to build, Starrville is today a shadow of its former self. Usually it was the railroad that would bypass a town, leading to its demise, but here, the religious convictions of the community turned away the railroad and the outsiders that it would bring. From there, it was only a matter of time before Winona sprang up -- the Starrville post office and Masonic lodge (which is still active) moved there in 1907 -- and even Gladewater got some of Starrville's traffic. Surprisingly, this church has no significant Internet presence. No Facebook, no Twitter, no web page; just web-spidered directory listings. However, there is a plaque mounted by the door which provides a very thorough history:
The History of
Starrville Methodist Church
The Starrville Methodist Church was organized around 1840 with the members meeting in their homes. In 1852, the Rev. Joshua Starr, a Methodist Minister from Alabama bought 640 acres of land on the Dallas-Shreveport Road, which is now FM 16. The existing well across from the present church was the center of attention in the early days as the Dallas-Shreveport Road at this point was a stopping place for the stage coaches to water horses and rest a spell.
Joshua Starr sold lots with deed covenants against gambling and liquor. In 1853 he helped organize Starr Lodge #118 A.F. and A.M. Methodists and Masons shared a two-story building which the church bought from Starr in 1854. The Starrville Methodists worshipped in the two-story building for many years.
The present sanctuary building was built around 1850 and the Fellowship Hall and Sunday School rooms were added later. Over the years, the church has fluctuated in membership ... at one time only having 6 or 7 members. In the early 1970's, the church dropped out of the Methodist Conference and became an Independent Methodist Church.
During the 1850's through the 1870's, Starrville Community contained businesses such as stores, grist mills, sawmills, and foundries. The community boasted of music teachers, dentists, and physicians. There were seven BRICK buildings in the center of the community at this time. Eventually, the Tyler Tap Railroad by-passed Starrville in the 1870's; thus bringing about population losses. All the old buildings have crumbled ... and no professional offices remain ...
However ...
The Starrville Methodist Church
survived and still stands today at its same location ...
in the center of the old Starrville community.
Praise God!
Church Name: Starrville Methodist Church
Church In Use (even only just occassionally): yes
Date Church Built: 1850s
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