History

The El Paso Methodist Church began in 1857 when it was listed as one of the seven appointments in the El Paso Circuit, which included El Paso, Panola, Chenoa, Willow Tree School, Bunch Grove School, Potter’s School and Secor. 

Services had been held in a schoolhouse prior to a frame church that was built and dedicated July 30, 1865. A large brick veneer church replaced the frame church and was dedicated on December 2, 1894. Less than six months later on May 12, 1895, fire of unknown origin broke out in the church and burnt it to the ground. An identical church was rebuilt but to much higher specifications. Rather than a brick veneer, a twelve-inch brick wall was built, and under the tower and the corners where the roof weight was carried, this was increased to an eighteen-inch wall. This church was dedicated on October 20, 1895 and is our present church today. 

The pictures are from roughly 1896, 1911, 1954 and 1973.