History of the Bronte Methodist Church - 1940 - Coke County, TX Submitted by Mary Love Berryman 4 Nov 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ***************************************************************** San Angelo Standard-Times, Friday, April 26, 1940 Half A Hundred Years Bronte Methodist Church Was Organized in 1891 By Pastor And Three Families Under Brush Arbor (Editor's note - Bronte Methodists are to observe the 50th anniversary of the church there Sunday. The following is a brief history of the church, prepared by Mrs. R. L. Keys, formerly Miss Mattie Belle Williams and a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Williams, charter members of the church.) BRONTE, April 25.--Organization of the Bronte Methodist, which Sunday is to observe its 50 anniversary, was completed under brush arbor at Pecan Mott on East Kickapoo Creek in the spring of 1891 with the Rev. J. W. Montgomery, then pastor at Hayrick, taking a leading part. This was the period just preceding first development of this part of the state. (Some records show the Rev. J. P. Hulsie was pastor at Hayrick at this time but it is generally believed that Montgomery was the act organizer of the church). The original membership of church was comprised of three families. These were Dr. and Mrs. F. Key, their son, Henry, and daughter, Pearl; Mr. and Mrs. J. M.Williams, and daughter, Fannie, Mr, and Mrs. George Harris. Other early members Include Captain and Mrs. J. P. Hutchinson, Ennis Adams and Mr. and Caulley. In the fall of 1891, it was November, the church was represented at the annual conference held in Abilene at which time James B. Key was the presiding bishop and G. F. Fair, the pastor. Have Longest Membership Today it is believed that Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rawlings, Bronte, have membership in the church than anyone else. They joined the church in the summer of ????. Others who have been members the church 40 years or more, and Mrs. FA Merchant, Alvin, and W. L. Hayley, Norton, who join 1899. Mr. Merchant is believed to have been the first Sunday superintendent and Mr. Hayley served as superintendent for than 20 years. Others who served as superintendents in the first days of the church are: R. L. Brewer, now of Rogers, Ark., W. E. Caldwell and E. J. Stockton, now of Waco. The first Sunday school was organized around 1898 in the old school house which was destroyed by fire in 1898. The structure was rebuilt and worship continued there until the church was constructed. Twenty-three regular pastors have served the church, beginning with the Rev. J. M. Baker in 1905, who served two years. The Rev. W. E. Anderson, pastor of the church for four years, 1923-26, inclusive, and 1932 and part of 1933, served longer than any other of the preachers, The present pastor Is the Rev. C. Reginald Hardy, who is serving his second year. Other Pastors Other pastors and length of time each served, include: D. A. McGuire, 1907; C. N. Morton, 1908-09; C. D.. Spann, 1910; A. E. Turney, 1922-12; R. B. Wagner, 1913; Thos. L. Sorrels, 1914-15; A. C. Smith, 1916-17; P. H. Gates, 1918-19; J. L. Spear, one quarter of 1919; W. A. Clark, 1919-20; B. M. Calloway, 1920 and part of 1921; C. W. Harden, balance of 1921; W. T. Veach, 1922; P. L. Shuler, 1926-27; W. J. Morphis, 1927-28; C. O. Hightower, 1928-31; Wallace N. Dunson, 1933-35; Stanley R. Horwood. part of 1936; Paul Moon, part of 1936; and J. H. Thompason, 1937-38. In 1907, Hayley recalls that a group of 35 boys and girls from the Sunday school joined the church. The Sunday school then had an enrollment of 214 with Hayley serving as superintendent and the Rev. Guire serving as pastor. In 1903 Dr. J. D. Leonard moved to Bronte from Arkansas and became a member of the church. He has been active ever since, serving 37 years as recording steward. Others who have served in this capacity are O. H. Willoughby and R. L. Brewer. In the, 50 years the church served the Bronte area, there been but one pastor to be ordained from its membership. He is the Ira F. Key, son of one of the families founding the church. This in 1904 when the church was in Brownwood district. The Rev. Key is to be one of the principals speakers at services Sunday. Long Period Of Service Mrs. A. J. Rawlings, who came here, in 1904, served the Sunday school as a teacher for more 30 years. In the early days she came to Bronte from the Rawlings place about 15 miles from here, in a hack traveling over typical country and having a dozen or more wire gates to open. Few Sundays has she been absent from church services The late Mrs. Birdie Leonard served the church as the first organist. Others were Miss Garland Key, now Mrs. Sanders of Wichita Falls, and Miss Oleta McCleskey now Mrs. Homer Fletcher. Mrs. I. M. Cumbie, the present pianist has served the church for more 27 years. Choir directors have been: the late Melvin Gideon, Mrs. Leonard Archie McCleskey, the late Bob McCleskey, R. L. Brewer, E. J. Stockton, Jess Percifull and Mrs. Alfred Taylor. After 15 years of worship in the school building plans were started in 1906 for construction of a church, original cost of which was $5,000. The building has been remodeled from time to time following its completion in 1907. The cornerstone was laid Jan. 27, 1907, with the Rev. McGuire serving as pastor and J. S. Chapman was the presiding elder. Members of of the building committee were: Dr. Key, Dr. Leonard, the late John A. Grimes, W. L. Hayley, and E. C. Rawlings. The church was paid for principally by subscription. Hauled Seats From San Angelo Grimes, A. J. Rawlings and Walter Kiker hauled the seats for the new church here San Angelo in wagons. It required more than two days to make a trip here to San Angelo, since the railroad was not built in here until 1909. The pulpit stand was donated to the church by Dr. and Mrs. Leonard and it is still in use. The church has used pianos only since 1913 when the Woman's Missionary Society, under the leadership of Mrs. W. L. Hayley, purchased one. Prior to that time the church used an old-fashioned organ. Church members worked hard to furnish the church. The Society served ice cream, which was a rarity in those days, on Saturday nights, served dinners, picked cotton, held quilting bees and resorted to other means to obtain money for the fixtures. One of the unusual features of the church services here was in 1907 when 33 members of the Kiker and McCleskey families, who had moved here from Erath County, joined the church at one time. In 1909 the church became a station with the Rev. Morton as the first station pastor. J. A. Whitehurst was the presiding elder. Five Generations At this time the church has members of five generations. They are: Mrs. A. E. McCleskey, 90 years of age, her daughter, Mrs. S. A. Kiker; Mrs. B. E. Modgling, granddaughter, Elmer Modgling, great-grandson, and Elmer Lynn Modgling, Jr. great-great-grandson. The church has a present membership of 225. The Rev. Mr. Hardy Is pastor and Dr. K. P. Barton, San Angelo, is district superintendent. The church has been in four conferences, first the Northwest Texas area until 1910, then in the Central Texas Conference, later being placed in the West Texas Conference. Since 1934 it has been in the San Angelo district of the Southwest Texas Conference. Present officers are: A. N. RawIings, president of the board of stewards; Dr. Leonard, recording steward; Mrs. Louisa Johnson, secretary-treasurer and B. F. Modgling, district steward. Mrs. O. H. Willoughby is president of the Woman's Missionary Society. Robert Knierim is superintendent of the Sunday School and Mrs. George Thomas is secretary. The Sunday School has an average attendance of about 85 persons.