Church History from 1855 to present at bottom of this page.
Church Pastor – Rev. Jeff Lust
Sherri Wright – Church Administrator
David Thames – Minister of Music
Tony Johnston – Pianist
Church History
1855 is the birth date of First Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, Texas. But having said that, one must recall a collection of images in order to clarify the essence of the Community of Faith called Methodist in Mount Vernon.
Originally organized as a Methodist Episcopal Church of the South, in 1855, the people met for worship and study in the house of Joe Wylie Parchman. Before 1875, meetings were held in the Parchman home and as the congregation grew they utilized the “Masonic Building” until they were able to construct the first house of worship. Charter members were: Esquire C.S. Yates and his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Parchman, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Parchman, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wylie Parchman, Mrs. Joel Arrington, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Matthews, and Captain and Mrs. Baker.
The original church building was replaced by a larger facility in 1896. A white frame structure, the second facility had a bell tower. ( The bell from that church building tower was relocated to the bell tower located in front of our present church in 1985.) A third structure was constructed in 1930 and the white frame building was razed. The Great Depression describes a great struggle for the Methodist congregation to survive; and this congregation chose to thrive.
The Methodist facility is truly a composite of Franklin County. Through the years, Methodists from Purley, Daphne and Floral Bluff have become one, worshipping in Mount Vernon. in May, 1981, the Terry Memorial United Methodist Church in Hagansport, Texas, merged with the Methodists in Mt. Vernon. The “Hagansport group” provides vitality of faith, commitment in service, to enrich the community of faith called Methodist.
In consummation of the hopes, plans and prayers of many, on May 26, 1985, the congregation moved into the new church location. On the church staff at the time of the move were Mrs. Charles Lowry, Organist; Mrs. Edward Joyce, Music Director; Mrs. Dorothy Burleson, Housekeeper; Mr. Charles Lowry, Chairman of the Administrative Board; Dan Hoke, Pastor. The Building Committee was Sam Harvey, Chairperson, Hermon Connelly, Marilyn Joyce, Mike Jordan. Robert Robinson, Otis Slaughter, and the Pastor.
Many persons were involved in the work of planning the new church. The congregation was asked to serve in five design and consulting sub-committee: Decor, Education Area, Kitchen and Fellowship Hall. Sanctuary, and Pipe Organ Search. There were contributions to record and bills to pay, there were letters and publicity to type, there were many meetings, some conflict and important design and decor choices to make. When moving time approached, every item in the former building had to he labeled as “sell if you can or move. When the actual move began, so did the volunteers, and the entire task was completed during the week of May 13th and Sunday afternoon, May 19th, 1985. Changes were made to the present facility in 1992 with the addition of Rainbow Hall, which houses Rainbow Day Care and Preschool. Rev. Don Pellikan serves as the church’s pastor.
Excerpt from
The Service of Consecration
September 15, 1985
PASTORS SERVING THIS CONGREGATION
Records are that John H. McLean was Presiding Elder of Jefferson District in 1870. Mt. Vernon was in the Jefferson District. Rev. McLean stated that the remains of Rev. John N. Hamill and wife had been buried in Mt. Vernon cemetery prior to 1870. Rev. McLean stated that Rev. Hamill had served the Mt. Vernon Circuit, but no definite date of his services.
The following is all we have on record of the Mt. Vernon pastors, since 1870. Following Rev. Hamill were:
1870 – John C. Smith
1871 – Calvin J. Cook
1872 – John C. Smith
1890-91 W.A. Coppege
1892 – William Hay
1893-94 J.N. Hunter
1895 – J W. Beckham
1896 – J.W. Clinton
1898-01 W.T. Morrow
1902 – C.R. Gray
1903 – W.B. Martin
1904 – J.E. Roach
1905 – J.M. Kirk
1906-07 J.F. Holmes
1908 – W.J. Bludworth
1909 – T.A. Lisenby
1910 – W.B. Byars
1911 – N.C. Little, Mt. Vernon Circuit
1912 – N.C. Little, W.J. Baker Jr., Preacher
1913- N.C. Little, W.J. Baker
1914- J. Leonard Rea, W.J. Baker
1915- N.W. Oliver, Mt. Vernon Station
1916- N.W. Oliver
1917 – 19 T.W. Preston
1920- H. B. Chambers
1921- S.M. Williams
1922 – 23 C.L. Bowen
1924- T.R. Clendenin
1925 – 26 R.L. Ely
1927 – 28 T. H Morris
1929 – 30 E.C. Carter
1931- 31 C.B. Garrett
1932 – 36 S.M. Williams
1937 – 41 Carl D. Reynolds
1942 – 43 T.H. Browning
1944 – 47 J.C.Mann
1948 – 51 C.S. Wilhite (Part of 1951. Fred P. Broyles remainder of 1951)
1952 – 55 J.H. Westbrook
1956 – 61 Bill Stinson
1961- 61 Harold Taylor
1962- 62 Donley Culbertson
1963 – 67 Richard Perry
1967 – 70 Theo Wright
1970 – 75 Donald Holt
1975 – 78 Dr. James Walker
1978 – 83 Jack McNabb,
1983 – 91 Dan Hoke
1991 – 93 Dr. Roy L. Spore
1993 – 94 Glynn Vickers
1994 – 05 Bob Walker
2005 – 08 Don Pellikan
2008- 11 Pete Adrian
2011 – 16 Jack Wallace
2016 – 21 Stephen Cotten
2021 – 24 Craig Clark
2024 – Jeff Lust
First United Methodist Church 