The first record of Methodist activity in Llano dates back to the early 1850's when worship services were held in private homes and later in the school house.  In 1859 the Methodists, recognizing the need for a building of their own, purchased land from the county.  The property purchased then is the site of the church today.

The Llano church, like most Methodist churches, has a heritage of strong lay leadership.  From the beginning the church was led by the laity with circuit riding preachers passing through from time to time.  In 1873, the Rev. Alonzo Monk, was passing through and saw the need for the assignment of a Methodist preacher to regularly serve the community.  He designated the Rev. J. A. King as the first appointed minister of the Llano Methodist Episcopal Church South.  Rev. King was to preach at Llano on the first Sunday of every month.  It is reported that in those early days Brother King preached with a gun on the table beside him as a precaution against possible Indian attack or disruption of the services by boisterous cowboys.

The first house of worship was erected in 1887.  Some years later a two room Sunday school building was built next to the original church.  The present sanctuary was constructed in 1926.  At that time the original church was sold to St. John Lutheran congregation at Castell to be used in the construction of their church.  That church is still in use today.  The Sunday school building was sold and moved to a lot in south-western Llano to be used as a private residence.  That building has since been dismantled.

Prior to 1926 the church was known as the Llano Methodist Church.  In 1926 the name was changed to the Lutie Watkins Memorial Methodist Church in honor of the wife of Mr. George M. Watkins, who made a significant contribution toward the construction of the new sanctuary.  Among the "treasures" of the congregation are the strikingly beautiful windows in the sanctuary and the unique baptismal font sculpted by Frank Teich from marble quarried in Llano County.

A two story wing was added to the building in 1949 to provide for the growing need for Sunday school classrooms.  The most recent addition to the facility was the fellowship hall, which was constructed in 1995.

The Llano church has not rested upon it's heritage and tradition.  These are but the foundation stones upon which to build the future.  The church has acquired property across the street west from the church, which is being used for parking, and a lot just south of the church for the future expansion of its ministry to the community.  We believe that the next several years will be among the most exciting and productive in the long history of this congregation as we seize the opportunities for ministry in the opening years of the new millennium. 
 

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