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Our 100 year celebration

Welcome to First United Methodist Church of San Benito, Texas.  We are pleased that you are visiting us. 

We believe that our services will both minister to you and assist you in ministering to the Lord.

Our worship is based on a biblical pattern and we strive to maintain an "openness" to the Lord.  Our purpose - to minister in a way that will be pleasing to the Lord, and to assist all people in all manners of worship.  "Bearing one another's burdens" is the way to accomplish this.  Please feel free to use the enclosed prayer request card to make us aware of any requests you might have.

It is a pleasure to have you worship with us and we trust that when the service is over, you will feel welcome and will say with us...

"Lord, I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thy honor dwelleth."  Psalm 26:8

As we begin to celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2007-2008 we thank God for his help through the years and pray for His guidance as we seek to carry out the mission of our great church.

In December, 1907, the first Sunday School in San Benito was organized at the J.A. McAtee home on Travis Avenue just behind the San Benito Hotel.  It represented several denominations and from it have come the Protestant churches of San Benito. 

On January 22, 1908, Rev. C.E.W. Smith, the Methodist pastor of Brownsville organized the Methodist congregation of San Benito in a one room school house at the rear of the Sam Robertson home.  The seven charter members were Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Warren, Mr. & Mrs. W. L. Freeman, Donald Freeman, and Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Ray.  Rev. Smith preached to the San Benito congregation once a month.

In the summer of 1910 the First Methodist church building in San Benito was erected at a cost of $6,000 on the site of the present church.  The San Benito church became a full time pastoral charge in the fall of 1911 with W.N. Vernon as pastor.  Over the next 30 years, the increased membership and activities in the church caused the need to build a larger church.

A building committee was formed and Robert L. Vogler of Edinburg, Tx was hired as the architect.  William Meriwether was the general contractor.  The original building was demolished in late December 1930 and the first service in the new building was on June 14, 1931 - only 6 months later!  The memorial organ was used in that dedication service.  It is still the only pipe organ in San Benito.  The beautiful stain glass windows were installed a few years later.

The various church organizations have been active through the years and have helped serve the local church as well as mission projects.  Through the years music has been important in worship.  A small orchestra played in the original church building, but was retired when the great Kilgen organ was played.  In addition, many concerts with the choir and organ were conducted where the community was invited.

The Sunday School was always a great part of our church program.  In the 1950's more people attended Sunday School than church services.  Signs were posted inviting people to stay for church.  Many faithful members and friends have served the church with their time, talents and gifts.  The church survived through bank closings, border bandits and hurricanes.  We are grateful for the many beautiful memorial gifts such as the Prayer Chapel and church improvements.