HISTORY OF BURKEVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1839-2009

The beginning of the Burkeville United Methodist Church dates from 1834, when missionary Henry Stephenson brought the Protestant faith to Texas.  In 1839, the Burkeville Methodist Church was established.  In 1850, John R. Burke, owner of the Lorenzo de Zavala Land Grant of 1829, deeded a portion of the Zavala grant (originally set aside for a cemetery) to the Methodist Episcopal Church trustees.

The early church had its own minister, but later it shared a minister with other nearby churches.  From 1850 to 1884, a series of circuit preachers served the congregation.  From 1884, the church’s roster of ministers number forty-five. 

The first Burkeville Methodist Church was a one room chapel located on the cemetery grounds where the Burkeville Cemetery is currently located. Eventually the congregation, leaving the building behind, moved to Wiergate where they consolidated with other congregations at the Methodist church in the booming sawmill town.

In 1946 when the sawmill in Wiergate closed, the church building was moved, along with the building left at the Burkeville Cemetery, from their original locations to the present site in Burkeville where the Wiergate building stands today.   The building from the cemetery plot was sold to join a historical sawmill town display.  It was sold again later, and eventually the building disappeared from the pages of history.  Most believe that the building has been destroyed, but there is no definitive proof.

Of course the Burkeville United Methodist Church is not only about buildings.  The congregation is an integral part of the church's history.  In 1939, the women of the congregation formed the Woman’s Society of Christian Service with thirty-two charter members.  This organization, currently named the United Methodist Women, has met every Monday since 1939. 

The Burkeville United Methodist Church has always been a small church but there is a loving and caring relationship that is forever present.  The Burkeville United Methodist has an important heritage, which is steeped in the worship of the Lord, and, God willing, this heritage will survive for another 170 years.  Home

The church on the left is the original building, which was located next to the Burkeville Cemetery.  As stated above, this was a portion of the de Zavala land grant that was deeded to the church.  The cemetery remains today.

This is a drawing that includes the original church from Wiergate, which is dated 1850.  The original church is now the sanctuary, and additional rooms were later added to the church as seen in the 1924 drawing.

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