The First United Methodist Church has contributed much to the spiritual enrichment and stability to the community of Bonham and Fannin County in its long continuing existence. We are proudly "Claiming Our Past, Celebrating the Present and Challenging the Future."
In the year 1844, only one year after Bonham was designated as the county seat of Fannin County, The First Methodist Church held its first meeting in a log cabin one block east of the town square with the organizing minister Reverend James H. Graham, who was licensed to preach in 1834. Rev.Graham was from Pennsylvania, but had been living in the Paris, Texas area since 1840, as a circuit rider, preaching and teaching the word. As a circuit rider his name is connected with many of the earliest Methodist churches in Fannin County.
Prominent names among the charter members of the first church were John P. Simpson, brother-in-law to Bailey Inglish, co-founders of the Bonham community. John Simpson and his wife Sena Needham Simpson were the first joiners along with Bailey Inglish and his wife Nancy Needham Inglish and all of their children.
There was no other church in town until 1846.
May 5,1870, the entire block where the First United Methodist Church now stands, was donated by Thos. P. Williams, a merchant in Bonham. The Civil War almost broke him, and when he gave this block of land for the establishment of a church, he made a true sacrifice. A few years later he left Bonham and lived the rest of his old age in the Red River Bottom with a mere existence.
A first church building was erected in 1872. A second church, a beautiful two-story red brick with a three-tired spire, was completed in 1888.
For ten years that beautiful church was enjoyed by the congregation. Sadly, on Sunday night of December 11, 1898, the building burned to the ground. A third church was completed in the following year, and the beginning of the new century saw the congregation worshipping in a new church. In the early spring of 1915, a storm with high winds and lightning struck the tall spires causing so much damage to the church top that the spires had to be removed. While these repairs were being done, an annex had to be added for Sunday School class rooms and a kitchen. Then in 1925, another annex had to be added.
In 1953, a new educational building was completed and that building housed Sunday School classes along with a large convenient kitchen, fellowship hall and nursery. That unit was the first step towards another new church. That very unit is still part of the existing church today.
In 1960, the 61-year-old sanctuary was torn down, and the fellowship hall served the congregation for worship service until the new building was completed. The fourth church sanctuary was dedicated in the summer of 1961. In 2009, nearly 50 years later, it was time for repairs to be made to the sanctuary. The air conditioning could no longer be repaired and had finely cooled its last cool. The lighting was dim, the electrical wiring needed replaced, and the floor was worn, just to mention a few of the problems that needed attention. Our early church history tells us of the faithfulness and sacrifices made by our forefathers and of their dedication and determination.
They built a church to serve for future generations. The present church congregation, proud and grateful of its heritage, believed it was time to stay faithful and follow in our forefathers footsteps to preserve the church; so hence, our "Capital Campaign" began !
With much moving around back and forth, not to mention all the long hours of planning, our congregation has met the challenge and the work is mostly done!
We now have a new look!
We would love to welcome you to the First United Methodist Church, 801 Star Street, Bonham, Texas. Open House is Sunday, September 12, 2010.
Please join us and pastor, Rev. Elizabeth Talbert.
Sunday School begins at 9:30am and Worship Service at 10:30am.
We invite you to stay after the worship service and be our guest for lunch.
Also, we offer a free, hot breakfast each Sunday morning at our Family Life Center (across the street from the church) 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and everyone is welcome.