Since the beginning of a settlement called

Jacksonville, Methodism has had a part in the

development of the community. Methodists of
Jacksonville have grown up with a reputation of a
pioneering and farsighted congregation.

About 1856, Jacksonville Methodists were finishing

their second church, a two-story structure in the north
part of the present town, although at that time old
Jacksonville still was located about two miles southwest
of the present city hall.

Methodists took the lead in construction of the first

church in old Jacksonville. This church, constructed of
logs, was erected sometime between 1847 and 1849.
It was built after the old Masonic Lodge building, in
which union services were held, collapsed during a
well-attended musical program. The log church was
small and services were held in it during the winter
when congregations were small. When weather
permitted, during the spring and summer, services were
moved to a brush arbor near Gum Creek to care for the
larger crowds. School also was held in the log church.

The Civil War brought hard times to the area. Rev. E.

F. Boone was circuit pastor and he received $600 for his
years work.

The town began moving to the present townsite,
when it was laid off by the International and Great
Northern Railroad in 1872 and there was a need for
churches in the new Jacksonville. Methodists built the
first, and it was used for four or five years as a Union
church, the building being located on Patton Street,
about one block west of the present structure.

Jacksonville was first part of the old East Texas

Methodist Conference and was in the Rusk circuit, this
being in the Sabine District. Rev. Littleton Fowler was
presiding elder and Henderson D. Palmer circuit pastor.
The Rusk circuit listed 195 white and thirteen negro
members in 1845.

Several years after the Union church was dissolved,

the Methodist congregation bought lots and built a
frame building where the present building now stands.
Concrete blocks, which form the base structure for
the present building were made on the site. Dr. Isaac
Alexander was Jacksonville pastor in 1894 and was
instrumental in getting Alexander Collegiate Institute
moved here from Kilgore. The students and faculty of
this school, which became Lon Morris College in 1924,
have played a major role in development of the present
church.

By 1852, Jacksonville was in the Trinity District and

annual conference was being held at Rusk. It was at this
time that Jacksonville became headquarters for a circuit.
Circuit membership was 742 white and 75 negro.
During this conference, Jacksonville circuit also was
moved to the Tyler District.

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2034 N Jackson St
Jacksonville, Texas 75766
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With construction of the present basic structure, the

frame building was moved to the college and used as a
dining hall until it burned. Worship services were held
in the old Ragsdale Opera House, corner of Main and
Commerce streets, during construction of the present
building.
Cost of the main building was $64,000 with the

administration building at Alexander College (the Twin

Towers), being built at the same time. During the 192426 pastorate of Rev. King Vivian interior was refinished
and major changes made in the dome. In 1938-40
under Rev. Neal Cannon, the educational building
was built at a cost of $18,000 and $5,000 was spent on
refinishing the main building.
A new parsonage on South Ragsdale Street was
purchased in 1949, during Marvin Vances pastorate,
and the old frame parsonage adjacent to the church
converted to use as Sunday School rooms. Also during
Vances pastorate, the church received new pews, had
the floor carpeted, air-conditioning installed and the
carillonic bells installed.
In more recent years, the church purchased a
parsonage at 918 John Street, disposing of the South
Ragsdale Street property. During the same period,

further renovations and additions to the educational

plant were made and two parking lots adjacent to the
church property provided.
Rev. Robert L. Gilpin presently serves the church as
pastor and membership is in excess of 1,000.
Reference: Jacksonville the story of a dynamic
community 1872-1972 copyright Jacksonville
Centennial

iSignShop
2034 N Jackson St
Jacksonville, Texas 75766
(903) 586-1647