Malakoff in Henderson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First United Methodist Church
of Malakoff
Photographed By Mike Stroud, September 17, 2012
1. First United Methodist Church Marker
Inscription.
First United Methodist Church. of Malakoff. Organized in 1852 by the Rev. Hezekiah Mitcham (1800-1865), this fellowship began with six charter members who first held services in various locations throughout the county. In 1854 the small congregation erected one of the first Methodist church buildings in the county. A log cabin chinked with mud, it was located on land donated by Mitcham's son James in the small settlement of Caney Creek. The church was known as Mitcham Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the community also came to be called Mitcham Chapel. The town later was named Malakoff for a village in Russia that had gained recognition during the Crimean War (1853-55). The congregation grew steadily in its early years and provided service and leadership to the community. In 1883 the membership agreed to move to the relocated town of Malakoff, which had moved 1.5 miles southwest of the original townsite when the railroad came through three years earlier. Several sanctuaries, including one destroyed in a 1933 tornado, have served the church since the move. From its small beginnings, the First United Methodist Church of Malakoff has grown, while maintaining its important ties to early Methodist history in Texas.
Organized in 1852 by the Rev. Hezekiah Mitcham (1800-1865), this fellowship began with six charter members who first held services in various locations throughout the county. In 1854 the small congregation erected one of the first Methodist church buildings in the county. A log cabin chinked with mud, it was located on land donated by Mitcham's son James in the small settlement of Caney Creek. The church was known as Mitcham Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the community also came to be called Mitcham Chapel. The town later was named Malakoff for a village in Russia that had gained recognition during the Crimean War (1853-55). The congregation grew steadily in its early years and provided service and leadership to the community. In 1883 the membership agreed to move to the relocated town of Malakoff, which had moved 1.5 miles southwest of the original townsite when the railroad came through three years earlier. Several sanctuaries, including one destroyed in a 1933 tornado, have served the church since the move. From its small beginnings, the First United Methodist Church of Malakoff has grown, while maintaining its important ties to early Methodist history in Texas.
Erected 1983 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10358.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed
Click or scan to see this page online
in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 32° 10.217′ N, 96° 0.611′ W. Marker is in Malakoff, Texas, in Henderson County. Marker is on South College Street near East Mitcham Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 107 South College Street, Malakoff TX 75148, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 501 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
