Matagorda Methodist Church

Matagorda Methodist Church. . , One of the earliest Methodist churches in Texas. Founded Jan. 6, 1839, by the Rev. Jesse Hord, a circuit rider who recorded that he came through "black mud, a pouring down rain and a howling norther" to hold services in Matagorda. When he preached at "early candle light" (dusk), four persons came forward to form the nucleus of the present church., The first church building was erected about 1851 but was destroyed by the great hurricane of 1854 which leveled almost every building in town. In 1869 worship was held in the county courthouse; in 1891 the present parsonage was built. In 1892 members decided they must have a proper church after being accidentally locked out of their meeting place - the schoolhouse - on a cold, rainy thanksgiving day. , Long Leaf Yellow Pine and Cypress were brought in from Galveston and the present church was completed in 1893. A Sunday School was soon founded by the Ladies' Aid Society. In 1927, Sunday School Rooms, a kitchen and study were built. In 1942, another huricane and flood damaged, but did not destroy. , Today, though many improvements and new furnishings have been recently added, the original Bible, Bell and hand-made cypress pews are still in service.