Beginning of Methodism in Honey Grove Methodism in the Honey Grove area began in A man named W. B. Allen donated a plot of land to the Methodist congregation. On that land a one-room log cabin was built they began to meet, and Rev. James Graham pastured the church. Baptists formed a congregation which met in the same log cabin, around a year later. The small rural chapel was the mother church for Honey Grove Methodism.

Apart of the Union Church The congregation grew and finally moved to Honey grove, where it joined a Union Church in The Union Church was at the north end of 6 th St. and was built on the land donated by B. S. Walcott. Methodists shared this one-room log church with the Baptists, Cumberland, Presbyterians, and Christians. Each of the denominations sponsored worship one Sunday each month. The fourth Sunday belonged to the Methodists.

Becoming the Methodist Church In the late 1870s the Methodists pulled away from the Union Church and became a charge in the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The charge was served by itinerant preachers called circuit riders. Honey Grove’s last Methodist circuit rider was Rev. W. A. Moss. During his appointment, the present site of the Methodist Church was bought and in 1879 a church building was begun.

Structure The Methodist Church had a Gothic structure, built of natural rock from the William Floyd quarry which was located near Rock Point south of Honey Grove. The sanctuary could seat about 450 worshippers. The current name of the church was given by Dr. J. W. P. McKenzie (also called Father McKenzie) who gave his name to the church. The stone on today’s build is the original stone from the William Floyd quarry. Picture of above is a photo of the William Floyd quarry.

Windows of the Methodist Church In 1874, the congregation of McKenzie Methodist Episcopal Church South was privileged to welcome the honored and loved educator and preacher to the church which still bears his name, Dr. McKenzie The elegant stained glass window in the east end of the Philathea Sunday School classroom was donated in 1887 in honor of Dr. McKenzie by the church’s organization of young women, the Galloway Society. The Galloways, incidentally, were named for Bishop Charles B. Galloway.

Expanding The North Texas Annual Conference planned to hold its annual session in Honey Grove in 1887, which necessitated the expansion of the building to the west. This sparked the move for construction. The church hosted the Annual Conference again in 1899.

Jacob Fein By 1910, the congregation had outgrown its facilities. Jacob Fein, Honey Grove contractor and builder, was employed to build the new structure. He used red pressed brick and native stone, with ornamental trim from the old building. Mr. Fein included the pews and altar rail from the 1881 church. The Honey Grove Signal newspaper reported that on Sunday Morning, January 29, 1911, “The congregation entered the splendid new building cemented by the golden ties of love and determined to do great things for the extension of the Master’s Kingdom on earth.” Dedication of the building came on March 31, 1912 and was led by Bishop Edwin Monzon of Dallas.

Today Today the great McKenzie United Methodist Church is lead by Rev. Vivian Crowson. The stained glass windows still adorn the walls of the church and the original stone is still in place. This church and its history are truly breathtaking. Rev. Vivian Crowson pictured above

McKenzie United Methodist Church 701 7th St, Honey Grove, TX 75446

The End

Works Cited /honey_grove_historical_photos.htm /honey_grove_historical_photos.htm /a_pictoral_tour_of_honey_grove.htm /a_pictoral_tour_of_honey_grove.htm ed62f5e ed62f5e Photos of present interior Church are courtesy of Rev. Vivian Crowson. Photos of exterior views of the Present Church were taken by Margarita Coronado.