Jones County Texas Archives - History of St. John's Methodist Church - Stamford, Texas - 1940 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** Methodist History Interesting highlight in the history of StamfordÕs St. JohnÕs Methodist church were recently recounted to WomanÕs Missionary Society members by Mrs. J.H. Rutherford whose parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Moore, were charter members of St. JohnÕs Methodist. Mrs. Rutherford is at Mount Sequoin now with other officials of Northwest Texas WomanÕs Missionary Conference. Noteworthy to newcomers to Stamford is the fact that Stamford High School is located on the old campus of historic old ŌStamford college.Ķ Lands donated to the City of Stamford and St. JohnÕs Church by the Northwest Texas Conference were in turn given to the public schools for erection of its secondary building, after the Methodist College was dissolved here. The first frame church building that housed St. JohnÕs church members is still standing, having been purchased by colored people of Stamford for use as a church in their section of town, and is located one block north of west Oliver street. The editor of StamfordÕs first paper, S. Gay, a former preacher, organized the townÕs first Methodist Church in 1920. Meetings were held in Sledge Hall, owned by the later Dr. J.R. Sledge, as all public gatherings, convened there on the south side of the square. The Rev. I.E. Hightower was first minister, coming after conference. Charter members of St. JohnÕs were: Charley Brewington, Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Moore, Mrs. Bean, Mrs. Spinnell, Mrs. A.S. Riddle, Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Abbott. St. JohnÕs church was built on the 200 block of North Swenson Street, with the parsonage next door, about the location of Lawhon Motor Company today. A tabernacle was built east of the church and used until 1912. Stamford Methodist College opened here in 1907 and the influx of new Methodist young people and families started movement for large church quarters. The present day site of St. JohnÕs Church was chosen for convention location to the college campus and population center of town. Cornerstone of the church was laid in 1910 and the congregation moved in 1912. The Rev. C.B. Meador was pastor at that time. Epochal events connected with the present day church structure include: installation of $5,000 heating plant in 1920, during ministry of Rev. A.W. Waddill, completion and improvement of church building under pastorate of the Rev. J.H. Hamblen, dedication of the church in 1922 by Bishop Dickey; installation of $8,000 pipe organ in 1923; converting back of church into Sunday School quarters in 1938 under ministry of the Rev. E.A. Reed. St. JohnÕs church is built on an improved plan of Trinity Church, Dallas, at an approximate cost of $100,000 and is the most imposing building viewed on approach of the town. to view spiritual epochs in the life of St. JohnÕs would require listing of accomplishments of many faithful pastors besides those already names and others who have served the congregation through the years. Some who may be mentioned are: Charley Brewington, first Sunday School superintendent; Mrs. A. Duggan, first womanÕs missionary president; the Rev. J.H. Hamblen, who served Ward Memorial Church in west side Stamford, the Methodist church building later sold to the negroes; the Rev. R.A. Clemmens under whose ministry a senior Epworth League was organized with the late Ray Rector as president; The Rev. HamblenÕs second ministry here, during which church was completed homecoming attended by 2,000 people was held, dedication service given and great revivals conducted. Twenty-two pastors have served St. JohnÕs in its 40 years of service with each making definite contributions to spiritual life of the town and section. More recent pastors have been: Rev. D.B. Doak; Rev. R.A. Stewart; Rev. C.L. Cartwright, Rev. W.G. Fletcher, Rev. C.R. Hooten, Rev. W.G. Bailey, Rev. E.A. Reed, Rev. T.S. Barcus, and today, Rev. W. Carl Clement. WomenÕs work in the church has been outstanding throughout the years also. When the Rev. W.B. McKeown succeeded, Rev. Hamblen as pastor of Ward Memorial church in the westside, Mrs. McKeown secured a small residence and established a mission. St. JohnÕs Missionary Society members conducted sewing classes there. Used clothing donated by them were remodeled and sold for a minimum price. Mrs. McKeown was termed the ŌUndonated Deaconess of the Northwest Texas ConferenceĶ for her work in StamfordÕs Wesley House. The Northwest Texas WomenÕs Missionary conference has been entertained there three times in 1907, 1922, and in 1937. Stamford church women have served in numerous offices important to work of the conference. The Northwest Texas Conference met here in 1916. Missionaries doing wonderful work in foreign fields have left for portals of St. JohnÕs Mittie Shelton, for whom one missionary circle is named here, went to Scaritt for her training for foreign work from Stamford in1910, a pupil of the Philathea class taught by Mrs. C.M. Woodward. Her work has been in China. At present, ill health has necessitate her return home. Mildred Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Smith, and Caperton Pace, were married in St. JohnÕs in October, 1920, and left immediately afterward for India where they have been for 20 years, Vera Smith Lowrie and her husband, S.H. Lowrie, spent five years in China, teaching at Soochow University. How the spirit of St. JohnÕs Church remains strong with those once associated with it is exemplified by the fact that members who once attended it is students of the old Methodist College here return annually for the old college reunion through the actual educational institution burned more than a score of years ago and was dissolved by the Northwest Texas conference. The Stamford Leader Friday, July 19, 1940