The History of Wesley United Methodist Church Nederland

The History of Wesley United Methodist Church Nederland, Texas

This history is presented in loving memory of, and in honor of, the early members of Wesley who carried out their dream. Because of their efforts, we have a church where it is an honor to be a member.

An airport. What a great place for high flying dreams to begin. Wesley Methodist Church had its beginning when Wesley’s first pastor, Rev. Jack Hooper, conducted the first service on August 5, 1956. The first services were held at the National Guard Armory, and were later moved to the Flying Chef Restaurant at the Jefferson County Airport. Evening services were first held at the Armory, and were later held at the Beauxart Garden Community House. Mrs. Clara Pleasant submitted the name “Wesley Methodist Church,” which was approved by the congregation and reported to the District Superintendent, Dr. D.L. Landrum.

The church membership reached 94 by the end of 1956, and average Church School attendance was 58. With financial help from the District Board of Missions and Church Extension, the church bought its first parsonage at 512 28^th Street, and also bought the property on which the church is now located. The fellowship hall, kitchen, and classrooms were completed in 1958, which required a loan of $60,000. The first worship service in the new church was held on December 31, 1958, at which time the membership had grown to 192.

Around 1961, the membership had grown to 265, worship service attendance was at 180, and Church School attendance was 110. Crowded conditions were becoming a problem, so, in 1963, a new sanctuary, more classrooms, and offices were built with a loan of $70,000. Actually, the old loan and new loan were combined into a bond issue of $125,000.

By 1966, the membership was 500, morning worship attendance was averaging 200, and Church School attendance reached an average of 150. This spectacular growth rate was indicative of an active, dynamic church.

In 1979 a new parsonage was built on adjoining church property at 625 35^th Street. The old parsonage was sold. The debt on the new parsonage was paid off in just two years- September 1981.

Other significant events in the life of Wesley include the pouring of new concrete parking lots, the installation of a steeple and carillon system, re-roofing the entire church building, renovation of the fellowship hall (and re-naming it Perkins Hall, in memory of charter member J.H. Perkins), installing vinyl siding, replacing the air-conditioning system, and various other smaller projects. In 1999, the members of Wesley gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on a new family life building. The Christian Life Center, or CLC as it became called, was dedicated in early 2000. It was yet another long-term dream fulfilled by many of Wesley’s faithful members.

In 2005, Wesley's sanctuary building was heavily damaged by hurricane Rita. After Rita, the church worshipped in the Christian Life Center while constructing a new sanctuary. In August 2008, the sanctuary was sufficiently complete to allow the church to begin worship there. Ironically, the consecration service of the new sanctuary, planned for September 21, 2008, was postponed due to the arrival of hurricane Ike.

14 pastors and one associate pastor, shown below in chronological order, have served the church.

Pastor	From	To	Years-Months
Jack Hooper	August 1956	September 1959	3- 1
Stewart Bell	September 1959	June 1963	3- 9
James Tunnell	June 1963	June 1967	4- 0
Sherrill Hall	June 1967	June 1968	1- 0
Jim Crawford	June 1968	September 1969	1- 3
Earl Cantrelle	November 1969	October 1973	3- 11
W.C. Hall	October 1973	January 1977	3- 3
Ben Reily	January 1977	January 1982	5- 0
Buddy Hillenkamp	January 1982	June 1986	4- 5
Leo Parker	June 1986	June 1989	3- 0
Eugene Easterly	June 1989	January 1996	6- 7
Lynne Settlemyre	January 1996	June 2001	5- 5
Stephanie Fournier (Associate)	June 1997	December 1997	0- 6
Carla Shield	June 2001	June 2005	4- 0
Kevin Otto	June 2005	Present

Wesley United Methodist Church – Early Members

1956:

Carl Murphy	Edward Pullin	Sue Sitton	James Westbrook
Lois Murphy	Virginia Pullin	Robert Curtis	Asa Spencer
Billy Joe Murphy	Eula Maye Pullin	Carrie Curtis	Denise Spencer
Neil Sheffield	Hollis Wright	Alma “Ma” Melder	Stephen Sturrock
Bernice Sheffield	Allie Wright	Joyce Knupple	James Sitton
Lestor Rector	Lynn Wright	Thurston Goodwin	Paul Strother
Sadie Rector	Louise Wright	Ruby Goodwin	Frances Strother
Sam Sturrock	David Holmes	Roy Goodwin	Wanda Sitton
Joyce Sturrock	Effie Holmes	Don Goodwin	Charles Cole
Pauline Sitton	Janet Holmes	Harry Farris	Joyce Ross
Ed Stewart	Lillie Kreishner	Isabella Farris	Velma Weatherly
Nannie Stewart	Helen Hooper	Vera Ford	Wesley Weatherly
J.H. Perkins	Joe Manry	Nelson Sapp	Robert Sibley
Edna Perkins	Ruby Manry	Sally Sapp	Inez Sibley
H.C. Youmans	Eugene Pleasant	Pearl Manry	Jackie Holt
Archie Youmans	Clara Pleasant	William Westbrook	John Ford
George Streetman	Wayne Pleasant	Eura Westbrook
Valmeeta Streetman	Mary Ruth Pleasant	Ada Westbrook
Edward Streetman	Eugenia Pleasant	Mary Westbrook

1957:

Joan Byrd	James Street	Newton McLain	John Goodwin
John Seabolt	Grace Wolf	Patricia McLain	Mary Goodwin
Marjorie Seabolt	Lola Grimes	Nell Thomas	Paul Ross
Jack Frazier	John Goss	Benjamin Thomas	Neil Sheffield
Corinne Frazier	Maude Goss	Fred Cessac	Margie Sheffield
Bobbie Stewart	John Coffman	Theda Cessac	Martha Dean
Ima Grace Sturrock	Patricia Coffman	William Browne	Betty Strawn
Lowell Morgan	Linda Holt	Mildred Browne	Thomas Ross
Marilyn Morgan	Grace Hodnett	James Abshier	Clifford Williams
William Hodnett	Larry Strother	Barbara Abshier	Mary Williams
Paul Holt	Mary Dubose	Sondra Whiddon

1958:

Sam Whiddon	Sarah Schell	Melvin Schell	Jeptha Keeling
Ruth Whiddon	Bethel Cessac	Charles Whiddon	Pauline Keeling
Ed Griffith	James M. Abshire	Robert Rothrock	Sidney DuBose
Loraine Griffith	Paulette Ross	Jean Rothrock	Melvin Stuart
Eleanor Griffith	Pamela Whiddon	Elizabeth Manry	Lois Stuart
Michael Griffith	Danny DuBose	Carl Freeman	Hollis Powell
Charlie Brown	Andrew Smith	Marlene Freeman	Christine Powell
Rhoneta Brown	Zillah Smith	Wanda Alberta	David Dugas
Charlie M. Brown	Carrel Hanley	Harold Dalby	Colita Dugas
Rita Brown	Annell Hanley	Joyce Dalby

Many of these early members are STILL living the dream at Wesley!!

Barbara Vincent, Gerald Nelson, and Steven Nelson compiled this church history.
It was last revised in September 2008

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