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 May United Methodist Church
N 31° 57.828 W 098° 55.248
14R E 507483 N 3536425
A Texas historical marker titled May United Methodist Church is in the front yard of the church's property at 18001 North US 183, May, TX 76857.
Waymark Code: WM12NPA
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 06/23/2020
Views: 7
The May United Methodist Church has served the community of May and its surrounding areas since the 1860s. However, it was formally organized in 1886. Over that 140 years of ministry, there have been through several recombinations of the congregation and in several temporary meeting places and at least two formal church buildings. US-183 passes between the property of the May United Methodist Church and the May Cemetery, where many (most) of the people living in or near May and this church have been buried over the generations that have been served and ministered to by this May United Methodist Church. Both locations are worth visiting. Link to May UMC website: ( visit link)
Marker Number: 12532
Marker Text:
Methodists in this area were initially served by circuit-riding preachers. First to come to the region in the 1860s was the Rev. Hugh M. Childress, and worship services were held in private homes. In 1882, the Rev. Peter Gravis organized Mt. Zion Methodist Church, which later merged with the congregation at Byrds. Both of these communities, along with Bethel, Brooks, Clio, Gap Creek, Green's Chapel, Holder, Pleasant Valley, Rocky, Shrum, Verbena, Williams, Windham and Wolf Valley became part of the May charge. Brush arbor revivals were held each summer.
The May Methodist Church was formally organized in 1886. Members gathered for services in nearby Verbena until 1890, when they began meeting in the newly constructed May schoolhouse. Four years later, members built their own one-room church, which served until they constructed a new brick building with memorial stained glass windows in 1929-30. After 70 years of service, the church building was destroyed by fire in January 2000.
Throughout its history, the May United Methodist Church has upheld the ideals and traditions of its pioneer founders. Despite the Depression, droughts, floods, wars and fire, the church has served its members and the May community for more than 100 years. (2001)
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Visit Instructions:
Please include a picture in your log. You and your GPS receiver do not need to be in the picture. We encourage additional information about your visit (comments about the surrounding area, how you ended up near the marker, etc.) in the log.
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