Celina Methodist Church
First Methodist Church of Celina
Oct 1915. by John Stallcup
The Methodist Church was organized in 1869 at the Union School house which was built on the East part of the present town site. Rev. George Gatewood was the pastor and organizer with about 18 or 20 charter members. None of which are living today that we know of and only five of their children that we can call to mind belong to our church today at this place. Those names are as follows: Mrs. Anna Mann, Mrs. J. C. Ousley, J. A. Biggs, J. W. Willock and John Stallcup.
Rev. Geo. Gatewood by some people might not have been called a great preacher but as we look back, we consider him a great preacher, from the fact he was a great soul winner. He held one camp meeting on this circuit which we were permitted to attend, when there were sixty conversions, which was a great meeting in a thinly settled country. Not only was he great in that but he was great in the length of time he preached as a traveling preacher. He was 49 years in the conference a traveling preacher and begged for one more year that he could have it go on record that he traveled and preached a half a century in the conference. But he was deigned the privilege. Unfortunate for Bro. Gatewood, he was very forgetful. Often while dining with his flock he would put the napkins in his pocket, forgetting to return them to the table, which was a great inconvenience to the sisters.
Our church worshiped about twelve years in the old union school house, which was used also by the other churches here at that time. In 1881, after a very hard pull they decided to build a church known as the Union Church, which was build on the East part of the present town site. The land was donated for the first school house, and the first church by Quincy Case and Wife, who was believer in education and Christianity. Although at that time he was not a Christian, but his wife was. The Union Church was build while Reverent L. P. Smith was Pastor. He was a young man full of energy, and is still preaching in the North Texas Conference. While we built in the country, in 1900 the town moved to us, instead of us moving to town. We worshiped 28 years in the Union Church. In 1909 under the pastorate of F. O. Miller, they decided to build the present church. There was considerable objection among the older members to a change in location. As they were very much attached to the old location. After considerable argument and friction among the members, a majority favored moving to a more central part of town.
Many pastors have served us faithfully, since our organization, to many to mention, and some even whose names we have forgot. Many have gone to their reward as well as the hundreds of faithful members, who have come and gone, and many of them to their reward up higher. The memory of many of these are still very precious to us. Our membership today for those we can account for is about 230 or 240. Which there is about 40 more we don't know much as to where they are. If these 240 or faithful, there can be much good accomplished while they live, and a great reward will await them if they are faithful to the end.
submitted by Herb Cunningham
Oct 1915. by John Stallcup
The Methodist Church was organized in 1869 at the Union School house which was built on the East part of the present town site. Rev. George Gatewood was the pastor and organizer with about 18 or 20 charter members. None of which are living today that we know of and only five of their children that we can call to mind belong to our church today at this place. Those names are as follows: Mrs. Anna Mann, Mrs. J. C. Ousley, J. A. Biggs, J. W. Willock and John Stallcup.
Rev. Geo. Gatewood by some people might not have been called a great preacher but as we look back, we consider him a great preacher, from the fact he was a great soul winner. He held one camp meeting on this circuit which we were permitted to attend, when there were sixty conversions, which was a great meeting in a thinly settled country. Not only was he great in that but he was great in the length of time he preached as a traveling preacher. He was 49 years in the conference a traveling preacher and begged for one more year that he could have it go on record that he traveled and preached a half a century in the conference. But he was deigned the privilege. Unfortunate for Bro. Gatewood, he was very forgetful. Often while dining with his flock he would put the napkins in his pocket, forgetting to return them to the table, which was a great inconvenience to the sisters.
Our church worshiped about twelve years in the old union school house, which was used also by the other churches here at that time. In 1881, after a very hard pull they decided to build a church known as the Union Church, which was build on the East part of the present town site. The land was donated for the first school house, and the first church by Quincy Case and Wife, who was believer in education and Christianity. Although at that time he was not a Christian, but his wife was. The Union Church was build while Reverent L. P. Smith was Pastor. He was a young man full of energy, and is still preaching in the North Texas Conference. While we built in the country, in 1900 the town moved to us, instead of us moving to town. We worshiped 28 years in the Union Church. In 1909 under the pastorate of F. O. Miller, they decided to build the present church. There was considerable objection among the older members to a change in location. As they were very much attached to the old location. After considerable argument and friction among the members, a majority favored moving to a more central part of town.
Many pastors have served us faithfully, since our organization, to many to mention, and some even whose names we have forgot. Many have gone to their reward as well as the hundreds of faithful members, who have come and gone, and many of them to their reward up higher. The memory of many of these are still very precious to us. Our membership today for those we can account for is about 230 or 240. Which there is about 40 more we don't know much as to where they are. If these 240 or faithful, there can be much good accomplished while they live, and a great reward will await them if they are faithful to the end.
submitted by Herb Cunningham
