History of the Site

Church Facilities | and Windows

Sanctuary Tours offered during our annual Bluebonnet & Scarecrow Festivals

In 1849, Chappell Hill's founders, Jacob and Mary Haller, dedicated an acre, adjacent to the Chappell Hill Academy, for a church site. The first church building was erected in 1853 and continually served as a house of worship until September 9, 1900 when it was destroyed by the Great Storm of 1900. The present building was constructed in 1901 by Henry Brandt, Church Trustee, Builder and local businessman.

History of the Church

Prior to 1836, Texas was part of Mexico, whose official religion was Roman Catholicism. Public Protestant worship was banned. In September 1835, when Texas' war for independence was imminent, letters requesting Methodist Missionaries were sent to the Mission Board. The writers included David Ayres, Lydia McHenry, Rev. John Wesley Kenney and William Barrett Travis who wrote his letter before leaving for his assignment at the Alamo. In 1837, three Methodist Missionaries, Dr. Martin Ruter, Reverend Littleton Fowler and Reverend Robert Alexander, arrived in Texas to "Preach the Gospel, marry the living, bury the dead and establish churches." Alexander was assigned the Washington district and rode circuits from Gay Hill to Brazoria and from the Trinity River to Bastrop. In 1852, Reverend Robert Alexander founded this church.

The founder, Rev. Robert Alexander

He rode horseback from Natchez, Mississippi, and arrived in Texas in 1837 at age 26. At almost seven feet in height, with red hair he was conspicuous as he rode his circuit wearing two single-shot pistols, and carrying a shotgun. Asked about his armament, he replied, "It would be imprudent to do otherwise". Wise, considering the conditions under which he had to travel while "fighting the Devil on his own ground, Texas". Assigned to various Districts, Alexander served in Texas 45 years. Rev. Alexander founded this church in 1852. With his wife, Eliza Ayres, he maintained a farm on Caney Creek in Austin County, a short distance from Chappell Hill. In 1882, Rev. Alexander died in the Applewhite House, just north of the little church he founded 30 years earlier. His remains were interred in Atkinson Cemetery, and later re-interred in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, Texas.