Channing Methodist Church was First North of Canadian
Channing Methodist Church
Neighboring Hartley County was one of the earliest settled counties in the Panhandle and home of the first Methodist church north of the Canadian River.
The church was organized in 1898 and Rev. E. T. Harrison was pastor.
Early members of the church were A. G. Boyce, manager of the XIT ranch, his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Bessie. Others were Bertie Cherveny, a plumber; Jacob P. McLain, the Rivers Hotel keeper and his wife, Elizabeth; and Hereford cattle breeders James Powell and William and Marilla Powell.
In the News-Press article in June 1996 when the church was preparing for centennial celebration, pastor of the church Rev. James Edwards said the church was started in 1895, but did not have a building until 1898. The exact date for the completed structure is not known for sure, some say it was 1895. The historical marker that stands in front of the church says 1902.
The church was organized in 1898 and Rev. E. T. Harrison was pastor.
Early members of the church were A. G. Boyce, manager of the XIT ranch, his wife, Annie, and their daughter, Bessie. Others were Bertie Cherveny, a plumber; Jacob P. McLain, the Rivers Hotel keeper and his wife, Elizabeth; and Hereford cattle breeders James Powell and William and Marilla Powell.
In the News-Press article in June 1996 when the church was preparing for centennial celebration, pastor of the church Rev. James Edwards said the church was started in 1895, but did not have a building until 1898. The exact date for the completed structure is not known for sure, some say it was 1895. The historical marker that stands in front of the church says 1902.
Historical Marker at Channing Church
Land for the church building was purchased in 1901 and the building was completed that following year. When the church was organized, the town had two lumberyards, two general stores, a school, a grocery store which housed the post office and several saloons.
The church was built in a Victorian architectural style with a large bell tower on one corner. In a 1996 article in the Moore County News-Press, pastor of the church, Rev. James Edwards, tells about a small fire that caused some concern at the church. "There was a small fire years ago, but not much damage was done. If you look at the tower, it leans toward the main building. I crawled up into it and I was concerned about it until I saw how it was constructed. The tower has been crooked for 40-50 years and all the weight of the tower is on a platform which is built on top of the vestibule on the first floor. The platform is made of some of the finest wood, it has no knotholes and has the finest grain. The interior was made of stucco and it's in relatively good shape."
The sanctuary will hold about 90 people - all squeezed together, according to Edwards.
Over the years, additions have been made to the church - two Sunday School rooms, an office and a fellowship hall.
The church was built in a Victorian architectural style with a large bell tower on one corner. In a 1996 article in the Moore County News-Press, pastor of the church, Rev. James Edwards, tells about a small fire that caused some concern at the church. "There was a small fire years ago, but not much damage was done. If you look at the tower, it leans toward the main building. I crawled up into it and I was concerned about it until I saw how it was constructed. The tower has been crooked for 40-50 years and all the weight of the tower is on a platform which is built on top of the vestibule on the first floor. The platform is made of some of the finest wood, it has no knotholes and has the finest grain. The interior was made of stucco and it's in relatively good shape."
The sanctuary will hold about 90 people - all squeezed together, according to Edwards.
Over the years, additions have been made to the church - two Sunday School rooms, an office and a fellowship hall.