Bruceville in Bruceville-Eddy in McLennan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Bruceville Methodist Church

Photographed by James Hulse, March 5, 2023

1. Site of Bruceville Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. According to local tradition this congregation traces its beginning to the Cedar Bridge Methodist Church, which held services just prior to the Civil War in a sanctuary near a cedar bridge constructed by pioneer settler E.T. Cox. Members of Cedar Bridge Methodist reportedly organized a Methodist church in nearby Mastersville in 1863. Local tradition claims the 1863 Mastersville Methodist Church is the parent church of Bruceville Methodist Church. The earliest record of Mastersville Methodist is an 1865 notice of the Rev. J.L. Crabb's selection as pastor.

Soon after the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad extended its tracks through here in 1881 many of Mastersville's citizens and businesses moved to be near the railroad. The town which developed was officially named Bruceville with the granting of a post office in 1887. It was named for Dr. Lucien N. Bruce, on whose land the railroad depot was built.

The first Bruceville Methodist Church sanctuary was built some time during the 1880s. A new church building, erected at this site in 1895, served the congregation until 1983 when Bruceville Methodist Church merged with the nearby Eddy Methodist Church. The Bruceville Methodist Church building was later razed.

Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4734.)

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 31° 19.418′ N, 97° 14.213′ W. Marker is in Bruceville-Eddy, Texas, in McLennan County. It is in Bruceville. It is at the intersection of Church Street and Grider Street, on the right when traveling west on Church Street. The marker is located in an empty field. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bruceville TX 76630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Bruceville Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Martin Irons (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Baptist Church (approx. 2.1 miles away); Eddy Methodist Church (approx. 2.2 miles away); Flowers House (approx. 2.2 miles away); Roy Bedichek (approx. 2.8 miles away); Lorena Cemetery (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Lorena United Methodist Church (approx. 4.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bruceville-Eddy.

More about this marker. The church has been demolished and removed in the past.

The Site of Bruceville Methodist Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 5, 2023

2. The Site of Bruceville Methodist Church and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 315 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 8, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.