First United Methodist Church - Roby, TX
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member QuarrellaDeVil
N 32° 44.825 W 100° 22.866
14S E 370611 N 3624093
The First United Methodist Church of Roby is at N Church & W N 2nd St, Roby, TX.
Waymark Code: WM146ZJ
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 05/02/2021
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Bear and Ragged
Views: 2

The church has an active presence on Facebook, but there's really not much in the way of history. The church also has a listing with the United Methodist Church (see below), and there are plenty of hits from church directory web spiders. A 2001 Texas Historical Marker provides some history:

The oldest active church in Fisher County, this congregation dates to the earliest years of the county's settlement and organization. The town of Roby was laid out as county seat in 1885, and citizens began establishing churches, schools and businesses. Methodists met in the home of Captain and Mrs. V.H. Anderson under the leadership of circuit-riding preacher J.W. Dickinson.

The congregation formally organized as the Roby Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1886 and held a revival that summer. The eight charter members included Vachel Anderson, Melvina Anderson, James Patterson, Barbary Patterson, Gabie Simpson, Lou Simpson, Jane Roy and Fannie Barron. Until the first sanctuary was constructed in 1889, worship services were held in the Fisher County Courthouse. Later church buildings, completed in 1901, 1926 and 1981, have all stood at this site, on property sold to the church trustees in 1887 by M.L. and D.C. Roby and in 1889 by E.H. Dowel.

Throughout its history, this congregation, known as the First United Methodist Church since 1968, has demonstrated its commitment to mission and ministry. Membership over the years has included a number of civic and political leaders, and several members have entered the ordained ministry. Roby's First United Methodist Church serves as an important part of the community's cultural heritage.

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A guestimate is that this is the 1926 building, with the 1981 addition obvious at the rear, unless the 1901 building is underneath all of this somewhere. There is a parsonage next door, but what initially appears to be a cornerstone is a dedication stone -- "In memory of" -- and things are further complicated by a 1939 date on a stone on one of the support columns on the porch out front.

For those who really like to dig into history, there is a community to the northwest of here, Hobbs, named for Captain Vachel Hobbs Anderson, and Melvina, also referenced on the marker, was his wife. They are buried together in the Roby Cemetery just north of town.

Active church?: Yes

Year Built: 1926, 1981

Service times:
Sunday, 10:50 AM and 6 PM


Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:

At least one photo. You're welcome to be in the picture, but please, No GPSr.

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