Pearl in Coryell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Pearl Methodist Church

Photographed By James Hulse, March 2, 2023

1. Pearl Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. A group of Methodists gathered in the home of the Rev. John Wesley Shook (1846-1921) in the winter of 1875-76 to organize a congregation. Early worship services were held in the Hope Schoolhouse.

In 1890 landowner Charley Karnes (1854-1933) gave the Methodist Church three acres of land on which to build a sanctuary. By 1892 a Sunday school was in operation, and in 1900 a parsonage was built near the church. The existing sanctuary was erected about 1919-1920, and the parsonage was sold in 1953.

Serving the people of a large area, the size of the church's membership varied over the years. As the population of surrounding communities began to grow, members of Pearl Methodist Church withdrew to help organize new congregations.

In October 1975 the church celebrated its centennial with a special program involving descendants of J.W. Shook and other early members. Four years later, in March 1979, the congregation voted to disband and the church was officially discontinued by the Methodist Church denomination. The church property was given to the Pearl Cemetery Association in 1985. Pearl Methodist Church stands as a reminder of the area's early heritage.

Erected 1988 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3963.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1979.

Location. 31° 24.608′ N, 98° 2.137′ W. Marker is in Pearl, Texas, in Coryell County. Marker is at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 183 and County Highway 153, on the left when traveling west on Highway 183. The marker is located in front of the church under a large tree. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6735 FM183, Gatesville TX 76528, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pearl Church of Christ (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pearl Baptist Church (about 500 feet away); Pearl School (approx. half a mile away); Pearl Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); John Raney Bertrand (approx. 5 miles away); Smith Cemetery Memorial (approx. 5 miles away); Purmela Baptist Church (approx. 6½ miles away); Benjamin F. Gholson (approx. 8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pearl.

Also see . . . Pearl, TX (Coryell County). Texas State Historical Association

Pearl, twenty-two miles west of Gatesville in northwest Coryell County, was originally known as Wayback. A petition was sent for the establishment
Photographed By James Hulse, March 2, 2023

2. The Pearl Methodist Church and Marker
of a post office with the name Swayback, for Swayback Mountain, which was near the community. A clerical error resulted in the post office being named "Wayback" in 1884.

(Submitted on March 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The old Pearl Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 2, 2023

3. The old Pearl Methodist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 54 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 3, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.