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The Wadsworth Methodist Church was first organized in December, 1913. The bishop of the area was E. D. Mouzon, and the presiding elder of the Galveston District was S. W. Thomas. Pastor George E. Kemp served Wadsworth for one year. The next year, December, 1914, J. A. McCoy was bishop and L. F. Hardy, pastor. The charter members were J. D. Longwell, Katie Longwell, W. R. Orchard, Mrs. S. A. Orchard, Mrs. J. Woods, Emma Craft, Mrs. Wymer Craft, Sallie Shipman and Mollie Frank. In 1914 Mrs. S. C. Taylor, Mrs. J. M. Gilmore, Millie S. Thomas, Claudia O. Thomas, Daniel Smith, Thom D. Atzenhoffer, Annie Lee Taylor, Walton Warren Manning, George Belin Thomas, Adelbert Clark Thomas, Arthur Noble Thomas and Inez Hollen joined, bringing the total to 21. By June, 1915, 17 of the 21 had left the church by certificate, death, or joining other church denominations. This left only 4 members. A community church was organized and preachers from different denominations held services on different Sundays. In the early 1930s, all joined together to build a community church. John Sutherland, who owned a lumberyard, furnished a large portion of the material for the church building at a very reasonable price. When the building was finished, it was dedicated as a Baptist church. The Methodist members reorganized their church in May, 1933, and continued to have their services in the Baptist church. Rev. J. D. Houck was the pastor, and the charter members were: George William Fanson, Jennie Beedy Fanson, J. Elmer Fanson, Margaret Fanson, Will Mangum, Mrs. Will Mangum, Mrs. R. L. Taylor, Mrs. Travis Thompson, Luther M. Thompson, Mildred Thompson and June Mangum. In 1935 Mrs. Ed. Mallory, Inez and Gloria Mallory, Nona Thompson, Margaret Ryman, Mrs. Grace Sifford and Doris and Gussie Sifford joined the church. In 1937 eight more joined: Lucille Ottis, Mr. and Mrs. G. Savage Cartwright, Mack, Home, Mary Louise, and Robbie James and Juanita Cartwright. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Mooers and LaRue Pyles joined in 1938, bringing membership to 30. The Methodists continued holding services in the Baptist church until 1949. On February 17, 1949, a lot was purchased form J. C. Lewis for $10. On April 26, 1949, the small school building that sat behind the large school was purchased for $500 and moved to its present site and remodeled. The church meetings were held in the big school building during the remodeling. The piano in the Wadsworth schoolhouse was purchased from the Bay City Indepent School District for $1 with the stipulation that when the piano was no longer needed or wanted it would go to another non-profit organization in Wadsworth. The church is still using the piano. The church members sponsored bake sales, chicken spaghetti suppers and ice cream suppers to raise money for the new church. in 1953 a room was added on the back of the church for a Sunday School and recreation area. In 1954-55 Sunday School had an average attendance of 25 and Vacation Bible School had 30 children attending. During the early years, the church was on a charge with Glen Flora and Matagorda. The pastor lived in Glen Flora and he held church services there at 11:00 a.m., Wadsworth at 4:00 p.m. and then went to Matagorda for night services. The pastors who have served this church were:
In 1951 the charge was changed to Matagorda and Wadsworth and the pastor lived in Matagorda. Those who served as pastors were:
The church has always been small, but from time to time there has been a Sunday School and Women's Society of Christian Science. In 1985 families active in the church are Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Sutherland, Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Sutherland, Mrs. Eugene V. Laird, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold A Fanson, Mr. and Mrs. George A Fanson, Carrie Carmen and Carol Fanson and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Burton Lee.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, pages
608-609 |
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