St. John's United Methodist Church Receives Historical Marker
The Texas Historical Commission approved our application and granted St. John's UMC a subject marker, which tells the history of a place. Each marker application is limited to 10 pages and every fact noted in the history must be accurately cited and documented. The marker was formally dedicated on March 2, 2025 with Bishop Harvey and District Superintendent Gilts in attendance.
Our Church began shortly after Rockdale was established in 1874 as Railroad town by the the International and Great Northern Railroad. By 1884, there were 1,700 residents, five churches, two schools, two steam gristmill cotton gins, and a 250-seat opera house in the small town.
The new citizens wanted houses of worship and schools in the fledgling community. In the early years, Christians of many denominations gathered together to worship in community fellowship on the second floor of the W. P. Branch Furniture Store located at Cameron and Green Streets. Services were conducted by a Baptist minister and the singing was led by Jack Stewart. The room was similar to a loft, dusty and hung with cobwebs. Those who attended the services sat on planks upheld by empty beer kegs.
In 1876, devout citizens built a union church which was used by all denominations. A few years later, the Methodists purchased a lot downtown for $51.00 and erected their own sanctuary about 1882. The Methodist Church changed its name several times primarily to reflect changes made by the denomination:
1882 – Rockdale Methodist Episcopal Church, South;
1939 - The First Methodist Church;
1951 - St. John’s Methodist Church;
and finally in 1968 - St. John’s United Methodist Church.
Photos of the old buildings are displayed here today.
The Methodists played a key role in education in Rockdale since its founding. Once the town was incorporated in 1874, the citizens wanted public schools. An old, abandoned storehouse at the corner of Cameron and Green streets was appropriated, and the public school of Rockdale was launched with Miss Maggie Hall as assistant teacher. At the beginning of the next term Miss Hall built a small schoolhouse where she conducted a private school for girls. At the close of the term Miss Hall accepted the council’s offer to rent her school as a public school and she was made principal. Two years later the school moved to the Methodist Church where the school bell dated 1881 was first hung in the bell tower. The same bell hangs in the bell tower of our St. John’s today.
Just 20 years after Rockdale’s founding, the Methodist Trustees purchased a lot. The deed states: “Premises shall be used, maintained, and disposed of as a place of divine worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; subject to the discipline usage, and ministerial appointments of said church as from time to time authorized.” The first sanctuary was a traditional wood structure with stained glass windows and a tall, sharp steeple which was later remodeled into a single bell tower.
In the early 1890’s, a small, wooden building was added behind the church with four Sunday School rooms, presumably the one which originally served Miss Hall’s private school for girls.
Ground was broken on the current church building on Hillcrest Drive on January 17, 1960. Members generously supported the Building Committee by sponsoring stained glass windows, pews, hymnals, and the baptismal font. Many of the donor plaques are displayed in the Narthex. The church building, including the 320 seat Sanctuary, was built and furnished at a cost of $140,000. A large Fellowship Hall was added in 1998 at a cost of $350,000.
Notable church members and community leaders include:
Mrs. R. L. Batte (Leila M.) author of History of Milam County, Texas
Miss Mary Belle Batte,Leila’s daughter and Educator, whose “Thesis on Education in Milam County” is still a valuable resource.
George Sessions Perry, church member, award-winning author and contributor to the Saturday Evening Post.
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Miss Vaughnie Dudley who joined the church in 1895 and remained active until her death in 1967. For many, many years she served faithfully as church secretary. She diligently contacted absent Sunday School members and offered to collect their tithes. It is appropriate that the collection plates for the new sanctuary were donated by the Wesley Men’s Bible Class in appreciation of Miss Vaughnie Dudley. George Sessions Perry wrote about Miss Dudley as follows: "Granny’s friend Miss Vaughnie Dudley was one of the few people I ever knew that was an absolute cinch to go to heaven - and never mind how strict the entrance requirements might be. I see now and then around her graying head a shining little halo. And if there were any takers and anyway to prove it, I'd bet a lot that goes also for God."
·
Women’s ministry was active in the community, the church and providing for the missionaries. In 1900 the church hosted the Texas Annual Conference. After hearing from an eyewitness who survived the1900 flood in Galveston, the plates were passed, and generous donations were collected for Methodist churches in Galveston.
The Methodist Women’s District Missionary Society met at the church in 1922, and the welcome address was given by Mrs. Annie Grace Drake who claimed to be the oldest member of the Methodist Missionary Society, having joined in 1879. Mrs. Drake gave a fiery speech on the role of women in the church only two years after the 19th Amendment was ratified, declaring “Well do I recall that the organization of a woman’s society to do active church work was such an innovation in the Methodist Church South, that many hands were lifted ‘in holy horror’ at the mere mention of such a radical procedure.”
Church membership and activities increased during the boom years of the Alcoa aluminum processing plant and power generating plan in the 1950’st. The Methodist Youth were active as well as the men’s and women’s organizations. The Methodist Men built almost all the handicapped ramps in Rockdale, regardless of church affiliation of the resident.
For many years, St. John’s sponsored a Boy Scout troop and continues to support Rockdale Christian Services which operates a food pantry and thrift store for the needy. In the 1970’s Martha Parsley and Peggy Cooke organized the All Stars Sunday School class for special needs adults, and it is still active more than 40 years later.
St. John’s United Methodist Church has faithfully served the Rockdale community for 150 years under the leadership of 65 pastors. The entire community and this church were deeply impacted when Alcoa ceased operations in 2008. However, new business has come to the City and the community is one again growing again.
The Church rolls include many of community leaders, educators, elected officials, physicians, attorneys, and business leaders. Most importantly, the records reflect generations of Rockdale residents who selflessly gave their time and resources in service to the Lord and to Rockdale.
St. John’s United Methodist Church continues to be a welcoming “Family of Hope” and looks forward to serving the Rockdale Community for many decades to come.
Our Church began shortly after Rockdale was established in 1874 as Railroad town by the the International and Great Northern Railroad. By 1884, there were 1,700 residents, five churches, two schools, two steam gristmill cotton gins, and a 250-seat opera house in the small town.
The new citizens wanted houses of worship and schools in the fledgling community. In the early years, Christians of many denominations gathered together to worship in community fellowship on the second floor of the W. P. Branch Furniture Store located at Cameron and Green Streets. Services were conducted by a Baptist minister and the singing was led by Jack Stewart. The room was similar to a loft, dusty and hung with cobwebs. Those who attended the services sat on planks upheld by empty beer kegs.
In 1876, devout citizens built a union church which was used by all denominations. A few years later, the Methodists purchased a lot downtown for $51.00 and erected their own sanctuary about 1882. The Methodist Church changed its name several times primarily to reflect changes made by the denomination:
1882 – Rockdale Methodist Episcopal Church, South;
1939 - The First Methodist Church;
1951 - St. John’s Methodist Church;
and finally in 1968 - St. John’s United Methodist Church.
Photos of the old buildings are displayed here today.
The Methodists played a key role in education in Rockdale since its founding. Once the town was incorporated in 1874, the citizens wanted public schools. An old, abandoned storehouse at the corner of Cameron and Green streets was appropriated, and the public school of Rockdale was launched with Miss Maggie Hall as assistant teacher. At the beginning of the next term Miss Hall built a small schoolhouse where she conducted a private school for girls. At the close of the term Miss Hall accepted the council’s offer to rent her school as a public school and she was made principal. Two years later the school moved to the Methodist Church where the school bell dated 1881 was first hung in the bell tower. The same bell hangs in the bell tower of our St. John’s today.
Just 20 years after Rockdale’s founding, the Methodist Trustees purchased a lot. The deed states: “Premises shall be used, maintained, and disposed of as a place of divine worship for the use of the ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church South; subject to the discipline usage, and ministerial appointments of said church as from time to time authorized.” The first sanctuary was a traditional wood structure with stained glass windows and a tall, sharp steeple which was later remodeled into a single bell tower.
In the early 1890’s, a small, wooden building was added behind the church with four Sunday School rooms, presumably the one which originally served Miss Hall’s private school for girls.
Ground was broken on the current church building on Hillcrest Drive on January 17, 1960. Members generously supported the Building Committee by sponsoring stained glass windows, pews, hymnals, and the baptismal font. Many of the donor plaques are displayed in the Narthex. The church building, including the 320 seat Sanctuary, was built and furnished at a cost of $140,000. A large Fellowship Hall was added in 1998 at a cost of $350,000.
Notable church members and community leaders include:
Mrs. R. L. Batte (Leila M.) author of History of Milam County, Texas
Miss Mary Belle Batte,Leila’s daughter and Educator, whose “Thesis on Education in Milam County” is still a valuable resource.
George Sessions Perry, church member, award-winning author and contributor to the Saturday Evening Post.
·
Miss Vaughnie Dudley who joined the church in 1895 and remained active until her death in 1967. For many, many years she served faithfully as church secretary. She diligently contacted absent Sunday School members and offered to collect their tithes. It is appropriate that the collection plates for the new sanctuary were donated by the Wesley Men’s Bible Class in appreciation of Miss Vaughnie Dudley. George Sessions Perry wrote about Miss Dudley as follows: "Granny’s friend Miss Vaughnie Dudley was one of the few people I ever knew that was an absolute cinch to go to heaven - and never mind how strict the entrance requirements might be. I see now and then around her graying head a shining little halo. And if there were any takers and anyway to prove it, I'd bet a lot that goes also for God."
·
Women’s ministry was active in the community, the church and providing for the missionaries. In 1900 the church hosted the Texas Annual Conference. After hearing from an eyewitness who survived the1900 flood in Galveston, the plates were passed, and generous donations were collected for Methodist churches in Galveston.
The Methodist Women’s District Missionary Society met at the church in 1922, and the welcome address was given by Mrs. Annie Grace Drake who claimed to be the oldest member of the Methodist Missionary Society, having joined in 1879. Mrs. Drake gave a fiery speech on the role of women in the church only two years after the 19th Amendment was ratified, declaring “Well do I recall that the organization of a woman’s society to do active church work was such an innovation in the Methodist Church South, that many hands were lifted ‘in holy horror’ at the mere mention of such a radical procedure.”
Church membership and activities increased during the boom years of the Alcoa aluminum processing plant and power generating plan in the 1950’st. The Methodist Youth were active as well as the men’s and women’s organizations. The Methodist Men built almost all the handicapped ramps in Rockdale, regardless of church affiliation of the resident.
For many years, St. John’s sponsored a Boy Scout troop and continues to support Rockdale Christian Services which operates a food pantry and thrift store for the needy. In the 1970’s Martha Parsley and Peggy Cooke organized the All Stars Sunday School class for special needs adults, and it is still active more than 40 years later.
St. John’s United Methodist Church has faithfully served the Rockdale community for 150 years under the leadership of 65 pastors. The entire community and this church were deeply impacted when Alcoa ceased operations in 2008. However, new business has come to the City and the community is one again growing again.
The Church rolls include many of community leaders, educators, elected officials, physicians, attorneys, and business leaders. Most importantly, the records reflect generations of Rockdale residents who selflessly gave their time and resources in service to the Lord and to Rockdale.
St. John’s United Methodist Church continues to be a welcoming “Family of Hope” and looks forward to serving the Rockdale Community for many decades to come.
