Tenaha

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HISTORY OF TENAHA FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The Tenaha First Methodist Church was established in the early 1890’s by a group of Methodists who moved from the Woods Community. The town of Tenaha was being developed by the H.E. & W.T. Railroad at this time and many families were urged by the railroad to move to the town site from the Woods Community.

The first church building was a frame structure with Cathedral-type windows and a large bell tower at the front. It occupied the same site as the present Church. The building was built around 1892, and J. W. Pate was the first minister. There was a parsonage beside the Church. The Church was on a circuit with other small communities in the surrounding area, including Paxton, Joaquin, Concord and Tennessee. Tenaha was in the San Augustine District at this time.

As the town of Tenaha began to prosper, so did the Church. Membership grew in the circuit Churches, and in 1915 there were 762 members within the combined Churches. The District was changed to the Timpson District.

During the 1920’s, the circuit Churches changed, first having Tenaha, Paxton, Joaquin, Lone Oak and Cicero. Later during 1924, Tenaha was connected to Joaquin, Woods and Lone Star. The Timpson District was changed in 1926 to the Nacogdoches District. During this period Tenaha was with Woods, Joaquin and Paxton.

In 1928 a new church building was erected by 221 members with a sanctuary capacity of 200 on the same site. The frame structure was removed. The new building was a red brick two-story structure with a basement for Sunday school rooms.  The upper floor was the sanctuary with steps leading up to it from the street. The building cost was $14,000.00. The Church, when built, was a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. This was changed because of unification in 1939 between the Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal Church South and Methodist Protestant Church. A new parsonage was built at the same time. J. I. Weatherby, Sr. was pastor at that time.
In 1946, Tenaha became a full time station, charged with worship services each Sunday morning and night. R. Eugene Jonte became the first full time minister of the Church.

In 1968 the Episcopal United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church united to become The United Methodist Church. The Church has been known from this time as The First United Methodist Church of Tenaha.
Because of drainage problems and flooding in the basement of the church building, a new church plant was needed, and in October of 1969, the present Church was completed. Ronald E. Womack was the minister at this time.
 Incorporated into the structure is some of the past, with the beautiful stained glass window from the previous building being the focal point of the sanctuary.  This stained glass window was donate by Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Scurlock.

Soon in 1974, a new modern brick parsonage was built behind the Church. In 1976, the latest building to be added to the church plant is Scheide Hall, a beautiful and very functional fellowship hall, attached to the church building, and named in honor of Ben 0. Scheide.
Since 1974 the First United Methodist Church of Tenaha has shared a pastor with Tennessee. We are 138 members strong.

Many of the families who helped establish this Church in the 1890’s are still represented in our membership, and are evidence of the strong and faithful heritage of this Church, which has been the church home for Methodist from the earliest beginning of this community.