*Columbia, now West Columbia, was the first capitol of the Republic of Texas.
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Bethel Presbyterian Church: |
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| Picture ID: | 31 | |
| Picture Date: | 31 July 1997 | |
| Location: | East Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas | |
| Picture Description: | This is the church, though not the original
building, that was organized in 1840 by the Reverend William Y.
Allen with ten members. The first sermon was preached by Reverend
Hugh Wilson who is sometimes called "the Father of Texas
Presbyterianism." The church first bought and used one of the
former capitol* buildings, but a new church building was finished
and dedicated in 1852. It was in what is now West Columbia, and
probably adjacent to the Old Columbia Cemetery because the widow of
Josiah H. Bell gave the land for both the church and cemetery. In
the 1880s, the church moved to [East] Columbia and a new building
was built. It blew down in the '32 Storm, a small in area but
deadly hurricane that is legendary among the old-timers in Brazoria
County. The current church pictured here in a 1987 photograph taken
by the writer was bought from or given by the Methodists to Bethel
Presbyterian. The Underwoods and the George P. Munson family
belonged to Bethel Presbyterian, and 157 years to the exact day of
its founding, funeral services for Joe U. Munson Sr. were held
there. Services for Joe's widow, Ruth Anna, were held there eleven years later. *Columbia, now West Columbia, was the first capitol of the Republic of Texas. |
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| Entered into Album: | 5/25/2003 | |
