Mantua Christian Church
Mantua, Texas

History
of
"The Oldest Christian Church"
In
Texas
 

PREFACE

The material contained herein is taken from a history compiled and written by Dr. Lloyd Mottley during his pastorate in the First Christian Church of Van Alstyne.  Other material has been taken from church minutes - book, the Van Alstyne Leader and numerous verbal sources.

PREFACE 1967

Material for brief "modern" history compiled b y Rev. Tom Haley mainly taken from conversations with Church members. Certain sections of original history were removed (donations, listing of membership, etc.) Should you be interested, these can be seen in Church Library Copy.

It is hard to determine just the actual origin of a church, but it seems logical to link such an organization with a well known family or person that has gained recognition in the history of our country.

So it is that we begin our history with our beloved Collin McKinney who was born on April 17, 1766 in the state of New Jersey. Later living in Virginia and then growing to manhood in Kentucky becoming one of the pioneers in the work of winning that wilderness for civilization. Lessons learned in fighting Indians here were invaluable to him in the years afterward in Texas.

On February 13, 1792, Collin McKinney was married to Miss Annie Moore. of the four children born to them, two; Ashley and Polly, grew to man and womanhood and have descendants now living in various parts of Texas and other states. Mrs. McKinney passed from life on May 6, 1804. On April 14, 1805, McKinney was married the second time to Miss Betsey Coleman. To them were born six children, William C., Annie, Amy, Peggy, Eliza, and Younger Scott, the latter being twins.

On September 15, 1824, with his family, Collin McKinney moved from Kentucky westward, locating first at what was believed to be a part of Texas, at a point six miles east of Texarkana. Later, in 1831, they moved into what is now Bowie County, Texas, remaining there until 1836, when they moved to a point near what is now the Grayson-Collin County line, which became their permanent home.

Now at this time other settlers were also moving into this area and one of the McKinney neighbors was J. B. and Nancy Wilmeth who had come from "Peter's Colony" (near Dallas).

When the new building was acquired, a more detailed organization was affected. William C. McKinney, Asbury Cartwright, and G. W. Vernon were appointed elders and Collin McKinney and Solomon DeSpain were chosen deacons.

Just as the power of this church began to be felt in the community, the specter of the War Between the States strode across the scene, along with the loss of Collin McKinney who died September 8, 1861, at the age of 95 years, 4 months, 20 days; and leaving but the women and a few men, who carried on the work of the church in their limited way until peace returned to some of the men who had fought for the lost cause.

Reconstruction: Reconstruction in this North Texas area included reconstruction of the Mantua Christian Church, which by 1871 had become too small to hold the group; a larger and more commodious house was planned and built. The building committee for the new building was composed of J. L. Kelly, N. Taylor, D. L. McKinney, J. Dysart, R. C. Caspter and Tom Scott.

The new building included the provincial rail built down the center aisle to separate the pews of the men from those of the women. A Twentieth Century listener might have become a little weary as one of the sermons ran into the third hour, and it is to be imagined that those who actually listened became weary, but they stayed and they listened. No offering plate was passed in the Mantua Church; instead each member took his money and placed it upon the communion table.

Each member made his own hymn-book. Comparing hymn-books, "setting down" hymns not in the collection, proved to be a favorite pastime of the women members. These "hymn-books" came in time to be a combination memory book, recipe book and hymn-book.

The congregation continued to meet and to keep house for the Lord. New preachers, including R.C.Horn, Joe Darnell, J. R. and C. M. Wilmeth, --lf F. Douglas, Dr. B. F. Hall, Mansil Matthews, J. H. O'Dolly, J. S. Muse, and others, had come to the aid of the veterans. All of these preached during the '70s and '80s.

Into the tranquility of this peaceful progress came the problem of whether a "Christian" Church should use a musical instrument in its worship . . . church, after weathering the storm of the Civil War which had torn into the vitals of many other churches, was about to stumble over the "organ" question. After months of bitter arguments and after numerous opinions had been aired, the organ was voted to be a member of the church. The time finally arrived for the first morning worship in which the organ was to be used. Among the early arrivals
that morning was Aunt Betty Taylor, whose copious frame was covered with swishing taffeta. The swishing of that taffeta soon became a grand march as Aunt Betty, head up and mouth set, walked defiantly down the center aisle on the women's side to the front of the church, where she defiantly planted herself on the rostrum, stating in no uncertain terms that she would not move until that "unscriptural instrument of the devil" was discarded as an instrument of worship. The deadlock was eventually broken. The organ stayed; the church stayed; Aunt Betty stayed.

During these earlier years the Mantua Church was responsible for many other churches being organized. R.A.Milam moved to Galveston and was responsible for a church there. Collin Milam brought about the establishment of a church in Cedar Bayou. To Glen Rose went Scott Miller, and a church was planted there. In 1849, J. B. Wilmeth was responsible for the establishment of a church in McKinney. Other churches were established by members of the Mantua Church in Sherman, Gainesville, Howe, Melissa, White Mound, and Anna.

In the late '70s the Southern Pacific Railroad surveyed and built a line from Dallas north to Denison. One of the principal donors of land in the immediate area was a family6 by the name of Van Alstyne. Inasmuch as the railroad missed Mantua by some two or three miles, a station to handle that town's business was placed halfway between McKinney and Sherman, this station bore the name, Van Alstyne.

The Mantua Church, correctly analyzing the situation, appointed a committee to assist in the building of a church in Van Alstyne. On this committee was E. G. Beal, J. M. and J. L. Kelly, M. C. Judd, and J. H. Lair. It was appointed on September 28, 1887, the lots were purchased on November 2, 1887, and the building was ready for occupancy in December, 1888. This work was carried on under the ministry of Elder R. C. Horn.

The two churches led separate existence until 1891 when, under the leadership of Chalmers McPherson, who was serving the Mantua
Church, a meeting was called on June 3rd to decide whether this church should or should not move to Van Alstyne. . . . motion of Brother J. L. Kelly that the name be changed from Mantua to Van Alstyne, and that the congregation as a body affiliate with the Van Alstyne Church was carried by a majority vote.

Later, it was decided to reorganize at Mantua. This congregation lived but a short time. So it will be seen that the present congregation at
Van Alstyne, is the successor of the old Liberty congregation organized at Uncle Carrol McKinney's home in 1846.

The church started the year 1897, the financial conditions were in a very bad state and the Board on March 7, 1897, passed a resolution: 1st, that the present board resign, effective on the first Lord's Day in August 1897; and resolved; 2nd, that on that first Lord's Day in August, 1897, the church select from its members the following officers; Four Elders, four Deacons, and two Deaconesses; resolved 3rd, that one half of
the Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses be selected for two years and one half for one year and that on the first Lord's Day in August of each year, that the offices expiring be filled by the church; resolved 4th; that when any vacancy should occur from death or other cause, that the remainder of the board shall select someone to fill the unexpired time for which the one creating the vacancy was chosen, always submitting their selection to the congregation for ratification.

So as the new board went into action, the new deaconesses were given the job of raising funds to relieve the church debt and to the amazement of many, by the latter part of 1898, the ladies had accomplished the mission. But as time went on the Deaconesses lost their popularity and in October, 1899, the board asked that they resign. Therefore, Sister Beall and Sister McCorkle were relieved of their positions on the church board which had been so vital to the church in the past two years.

Following Brother McPherson, the following ministers have served the Van Alstyne "Christian" Church": Volney Johnston, D. W. Pritchett,
S. W. Crutcher, . . . J. Bush, T. E. Weaver, J. M. Campbell, R. D. Shults, M. S. Dunning, G. F. Bradford and E. H. Holmes.

During the pastorate of E. H. Homes, the present edifice was projected. The building was begun in 1914 and was fully paid for in 1919.

After Brother Holmes, the church was served by . . . N. Glover, who was followed by Leo Johnston.

It was under the leadership of Brother Johnston that the church reached its peak. It was on Sunday, November 2, 1923, that the First Christian Church celebrated its 77th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, men and women, some of them past the allotted three score and ten years, some burdened with the physical weakness of old age, some living in this community, some living in distant places, but all imbued with the same spirit gathered together with those at home here to celebrate. . . . season of reunion, revival, reminiscence and fellowship was enjoyed throughout the day.

The attendance at the Sunday School totaled 449 - what we believe was a record. The eleven o'clock hour found the church crowded and a goodly number gathered outside unable to secure seats.

Rev. Johnston conducted the service and had charge of preliminaries, introducing at the close, Elder R. C. Horn of McKinney, to deliver the sermon.

At the noon hour, a splendid barbecue dinner with all accessories was served on the church lawn.

At 2:30 in the afternoon, the auditorium of the church was again crowded. The exercises were in the nature of a "Reminiscence Meeting".
The talks were peculiarly interesting and historically very valuable; especially to those of the younger folks who were present, for they have no adequate conception of the difficulties faced by the men and women who pioneered in the work of establishing churches and building a foundation for Christianity.

As the church started into the "thirties", its ministers were Elmer Henson, J. W. Holsapple and then Lloyd Mottley, who even though he was not a native of the Van Alstyne Community, we might call him an adopted son of the First Christian Church and Van Alstyne as they weathered the depression together and fought the war together and then he returned for his big centennial year.

Much time and effort went into planning of this "Centennial Celebration:. Not only were arrangements made for a big day of celebrating, but $8,500 was raised for the construction of a Youth Building, to be known as Centennial Hall.

Sunday, September 8, 1946, the church marked its one-hundred years by a special service in the morning and that afternoon ground was broken by Mr. L. A. Cartwright, a long-time Elder of the church and son of Dr. Ashbury Cartwright, who shared the preaching duties in 1847, and Mr. S. H. Pattie, another old timer serving his thirtieth year as Chairman of the church Board.

However, as we close these first hundred years, we regret to advise that Centennial Hall was never built. Brother Mottley's efforts were not wasted as the money was used for the remodeling of the existing church building.

Notes Since The Early Fifties
Tom Haley

 Although there was a feeling of disappointment that Centennial Hall was not completed, the money raised was used very wisely. The
divided chain that has been a part of the sanctuary since the early fifties is still the only church with this type of construction in Van Alstyne. Although the present building does not reflect the most recent architectural developments, the sanctuary reflects the historical mood of the congregation and the central place of the communion table with its influence upon this congregation.

Since Dr. Lloyd Mottley moved from Van Alstyne after World War II, the pastors have been: Mr. Ed Hamner, Mr. Al Holt, Mr. Jesse Pugh, Mr. Paul Woodard, Mr. Ken Britt, Mr. Tom Haley, Mr. Richard Ceaney and Donald P. Griffin.

In writing a history such as this it’s strange how you think of only physical and organizational changes. To give a true analysis of the effect upon this congregation of the Christian Way just cannot be written anywhere except upon the hearts of the people. Maybe we do not talk about this enough, but let the reader be assured that lives have been changed and homes made more meaningful by the life of this church.

During the early fifties some organizational changes occurred that in the last fifteen years have been largely responsible for developing a more active church and creating leadership from the membership. Although a great deal of complaint has arisen because we have to keep referring to the Church Constitution and By-Laws, they have helped create a church board that constantly sees new faces and new ideas pouring into the life stream of the church. The rotating board has proven to be a useful and helpful way to encourage more people to participate in the work of the church.

In recent years the phrase has been prevalent "let the property department do it". And it seems that they have done well. Bradshaw Chapel, complete in 1965, has been a real asset to the women's class and for small worship gatherings. About this same time the total church, except sanctuary, inside and out was repainted and cleaned.

All the congregation was shocked to hear that Dr. Lloyd Mottley had died in December of 1965. After having given so many years of his life
to this congregation a fitting symbol, a new communion table was dedicated to his memory Sunday, July 9, 1967.

Also dedicated on that Sunday was the newly redecorated sanctuary and the new parsonage. Open house was given by Tom, Karen and Tommy Haley on Sunday July 9, 1967.

Mantua Christian Church History

Churches
Susan Hawkins
© 2024

If you find any links inoperable, please send me a message.