From old records and notes, some of them may be unreliable, it is said that Lorenza De Zavalla set aside a few acres of land for a building and graveyard in his land grant from the Government of Mexico.  Indeed there was a non-denominational gathering place near where the first Methodist Church Building was built in Burkeville prior to 1850.

The original Town Plat of Burkeville, dated 1847, shows a plot of ground where a building is located as belonging to the Methodist Church.  In 1850, for one dollar consideration, John and Mary Burke deeded one acre of land to the Burkeville Methodist Episcopal Church, South for a churchyard.  Church trustees were: Bennett Elkins, David Ford, Jim Jacob Horger, David McMahon, and Friend McMahon.  Three of the trustees were Methodist Ministers: Bennett Elkins, David Ford, and Friend McMahon.

A small church building with a bell tower and steeple was erected sometime before 1873.  Our records do not indicate the date of construction.  However; records do show that school was being held in the building by 1873.  The building was also used as a funeral chapel for all faiths.  The early Church was served by Circuit Riders with all races as worshipers.  A State of Texas Historical Marker is located at the original church site and cemetery.  The oldest known grave in the cemetery is that of John Burke who died in 1855.  John Burke was a Roman Catholic and founded the town of Burkeville.  We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his interest in helping to establish Christian Fellowship in our community.

Our present church building was built in 1924 at Wiergate, Texas.  It is built of Virgin Long-Leaf East Texas Pine.  In 1946 the Wiergate Charge was merged with the Burkeville Charge and services ceased to be held at the Weirgate Church.  Since the Wiergate Church building was newer and larger than the Burkeville Church building, in 1946 it was moved from its Wiergate location to its present location on Highway 63 one- half block East of Highway 87 in Burkeville.  It is located on a piece of land donated to the Burkeville Methodist Church by Harriet Cade in 1945.  The old Burkeville Church Building was moved from its original location and placed behind the present Church Building in 1948.  The original building was later donated to a historical site and moved from Burkeville.

Earliest Church
Painting by A. Miller - 8/24/71

Graphics Courtesy GBGM
Copyright © General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church