First United Methodist Church Bell - Albany, TX
N 32° 43.700 W 099° 17.805
14S E 472194 N 3621210
The bell for the First United Methodist Church stands near the previous church's cornerstones and a Texas Historical Marker in front of the church at 200 N Jacobs St, Albany, TX. This is the oldest church in Shackelford County.
Waymark Code: WM11GG8
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/20/2019
Views: 3
The bell is mounted upon a modern yoke, constructed of steel pipe, and it identifies itself as a product of the Buckeye Bell Foundry (Zinduzen & Tift, Cincinnati), suggesting that it was cast between 1866 and 1891. All things considered, it's in pretty good shape, and probably served at least at the 1913 sanctuary, if not the earlier ones. A 1973 Texas Historical Marker provides some history:
Oldest congregation in Northwest Texas Conference of Methodist Church. First church of any denomination founded in Shackelford County. Organized in 1873 at ranch home (8 mi. E) of J.C. Lynch (1828-1912), a later county judge, after Shackelford was organized in 1874. At the request of Lynch, the Reverend Levi Collins (1827-1912) came here from the Weatherford circuit to meet with pioneers of the Methodist faith. The charter members were Peter, Mollie, and S A. Gunsolus; Mr. and Mrs. Lynch; Elizabeth and Malinda McNutt. The Rev. William Manly was the first regular minister. By 1882, a small frame church had been erected on Schoolhouse Hill in Albany. After its loss in 1888 tornado, a second church was built on same site (1889), but relocated in 1909 on Main Street.
In 1913, under leadership of the Rev. O. P. Clark (born 1881), a red brick building with dome was erected at present site. Its auditorium was resplendent with gas lights, but outside there were still hitching racks.
Razed 1947, that building was replaced (1948) with present sanctuary and fellowship hall. Educational annex was constructed in 1957, to complete plant.
Membership in this church now numbers 334.
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Attentive travelers will recognize some familiar names on the historical marker. Judge John Cornelius Lynch was a high-profile businessman in Albany, while Dr. Peter Gunsolus was a prominent physician who worked across multiple counties, and a creek in Stephens County (to the east) bears his name. The Lynch Cemetery, southeast of Albany, is where you can visit Dr. Gonsolus and his family to pay your respects.
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