Grayson County TXGenWeb

Pilot Grove Methodist Church

Methodist Church Filled with History
by Steve Coker

In 1947, the late Mrs. Calie Taylor Lane of Pilot Grove writes "the First Methodist Church at Pilot Grove was a vacant store which was bought and fitted up with seats by the small congregation."
She continues, "There is no record available on the organization of the Methodist Church, but legend has it that Aunt Becky Clement and a Negro woman kept the church going during the Civil War. Aunt Becky and her sister Sarah (Mrs. Nathan Hampton) are well-remembered by those who lived in Pilot Grove in the 1890s.
"They were both plump, elderly women then and they always wore black dresses and white aprons to church, sitting in the first row and waving their pal leaf fans and nodding approval at the sermons.
"There is a story that Aunt Becky had the preacher home for dinner one Sunday, and to protect her white apron, she turned it around to the back and put on a red-checked gingham apron. When it was time to go back for the evening service, she forgot the white apron in back and put o another whit one over the red checked one. Then she minced proudly off to church, all three aprons flashing in the breeze."
The church was built in 1905 by members of the congregation and used until the 1930s. It was located on the southwest corner of F.M. 121 and Pilot grove Road, dangerously close to the highway.
In 1973, Mrs. Angus Wynne of Dallas spotted the church while driving through the country. After three years of negotiations with the Kaiser family of Pilot Grove, the church was moved to Old City Park in Dallas and restored. Although the original hand-hewn pews were intact, neither the original pulpit or bell was located. German craftsmanship was found in the structural joining.
If you have not visited Old City Park, it is worth the drive. It is located just south of downtown Dallas, south of I-30 between Harwood and St. Paul Streets across from the old Ambassador Hotel. There are plenty of direction signs and adequate parking.
The Four Corners area is well-represented there. A newspaper office from Savoy and the McCall store from Snow Hill between Blue Ridge and Farmersville are there, both perfectly restored and maintained. The church today is mainly used for weddings. It is a favorite for artist's paintings and photography buffs alike. It was recently featured in a television auto advertisement.