| The History of Joy Methodist Church Submitted by Lucille Glasgow The archives of the Clay County 1890 Jail Museum have produced another document of interest, "The History of Joy Methodist Church," written by Leda Roe as part of the application for a Texas State Marker in 1981: Clay County was reorganized in 1873 after being deorganized in 1863 and emptied of white settlers during the Civil War. "More settlers began arriving in the Joy area from Fannin County, Texas, in search of cheaper land for farming and ranching. Because of a problem with malaria in Fannin County these people began to move to this part of the state. As they settled in this area they named it Fannin Town, after the county from which they emigrated. "Living conditions were primitive. Dugouts, log cabins, one or two room box houses were common place. These conditions, however, did not seem to hinder these pioneers. A one-room log school house was soon erected and it also served as a place to worship. "The first church to be organized in the area was the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Fannin Town, Texas. It was organized in April, 1881 under an oak tree just west of the log school house. This oak tree still stands big and tall in the southwest corner of what is now the Joy Cemetery. "Recorded in the registry of Reverend W. M. Weaver are these charter members: Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Fletch Weaver, J. A. Evans, and Reverend and Mrs. William Weaver. "Services were held in the log school house until 1891 when A. S. Hicks deeded two acres of land to the Methodist Episcopal Church South members. A small box type building with a gable roof was soon built in the center of the west side of these two acres. The congregation worshiped there for several years with Rev. G. C. Hardy as pastor. "In 1894 the charge name of Fannin Town was changed to Mount Castle with Pastor J. D. Hudgins. In later years the name was changed from Methodist Episcopal Church to Joy Methodist Church. "In 1901 the community had to change the name of Fannin Town because the postal authorities wanted shorter names for the post offices. The community by then was prospering and was a joyful place to live, so the people decided to call it JOY. As the community continued to grow, businesses were established: a general store, wagon yard, barber shop, gin, blacksmith shop and later grocery stores and garages. "In 1920 the original church was torn down and the material salvaged to be used in building a new church. In the years of 1920 and 1921 the church we now worship in was built in the southwest corner of these two acres . Mr. Sam Gill was the main carpenter and the men and ladies of the community also helped in their spare time. Every one remembers how they picked cotton for Mr. Sam Gill to help pay for his labor. Reverend Ples Warren was pastor at this time with a membership of 138 people. "In the year of 1923 the Joy Methodist parsonage was built by Mr. jack Lawrence in the southeast corner of the two acres. A water well was soon dug by hand north of the parsonage. "In the 1920's and 30's the church had what we called the Lords Acre. A farmer would donate so many acres of his land to the church. The church members would gather and sell the products and the proceeds would go to the church to be used for the Lords work. Some of the members would sell eggs, chickens, or milk and butter and give a portion of these earnings to the church for the same purposes. "The same preacher usually served three churches in the early days and was called a circuit rider. He usually made his rounds on horseback, carrying his pouch and Bible and would spend weekends with some good family of the church. "Through all the years, there were singing schools, vacation Bible schools, Epworth League, Ladies Aid Society, W.S.C.S. Circles, MYF, quilting bees, revivals and camp meetings. "There would always be a revival or camp meeting in the summers. They would be held on the church grounds, or perhaps the church building, or maybe in some farmers pasture convenient to the churches or communities. Wherever they were held, the men built a brush arbor, or sometimes tents were erected. There was always a mourners bench, a stage for the pulpit and piano and usually there was straw on the ground so it wouldnt be so dusty. There was always a barrel of good cold water with tin cups to drink from. The mothers would come prepared with quilts to put down on the ground to lay the babies on when they went to sleep. Sometimes the babies would be put in the wagons and once in a while some mischievous boys would swap babies from wagon to wagon and their parents might not notice until they had started on their way home. The worshipers would often have dinner on the grounds on Sundays. The early pioneers came to church in horse-drawn wagons and buggies as well as on horseback. Later they came in Model Ts, Star cars and Overland cars. "With the beginning of World War II, sixty-five men from the Joy Community left for service to their country. This was the beginning of the decline of people in the community as they began to move to cities and towns to replace workers who had gone to military service. After the war the community continued to decline in population as the returning service men chose to remain in more populated areas. "The Joy Methodist parsonage was sold in 1968 because of declining membership. The United Methodist Churches all belong to a conference to assist one another when help is needed. The Joy United Methodist Church is in the North Texas Conference. "The United Methodist Churches are made up of charges or circuits, each one consisting of from one to three churches working together with one pastor serving them. For instance, the following churches have worked together through the years: Joy, Shannon and Antelope; Joy, Buffalo Springs and Shannon; Joy, Vashti and Bellevue now with Reverend Norman Cornelius as pastor. All these charges, or circuits, are under the supervision of a district. These churches have served under the Districts of Bowie, Archer City and Henrietta through the years. We are now in the Wichita Falls District with Dr. Earl Kifer as District Superintendent. He had been pastor of this church from May 1, 1946 to May 1, 1950. In 1968 several conferences combined to form the United Methodist Church so we became the Joy United Methodist Church. "In 1973, Joy United Methodist Church almost closed. This was during the time that Reverend John Dillard was pastor. We were few in number and felt we were not financially able to keep going. Every Sunday we met we would wonder how much longer we could carry on. One Sunday morning, November 25, 1973, we met and were awfully blue. We had another discussion. Mrs. E. Dan Pruett got up and said, Folks, let us not give up, even if we are few in number. Let us keep our little church going. We said it needed repairs so badly we just couldnt see any way of fixing it up. Again Mrs. Pruett said, We can do it. I will bear most of the expenses if you will help me. We who were there said we would do what we could. Those present were Reverend John Dillard, Mrs. Lillie Slaughter, Mrs. Almeta Spivey, Mrs. Dollie Dillard, Mrs. E. Dan Pruett, Mrs. Nell Howell, and Opal and Revis Seigler. Soon the word got around and the whole neighborhood was willing to do what they could to help. Word spread over the world, for donations began to come from California to New York and different places around the globe. "Friends and neighbors of all faiths donated their time, money, and prayers. The project began to grow. We all had faith that it could be done. Reverend Donley Culbertson, a Methodist minister at Chico heard about our project. He made arrangements with the Rock Island Rail company to donate enough cross ties to put under the church for the support and our members arranged to get them. "Then our work really began. From the foundation to the roof, paneling, walls, a new ceiling, new doors, new windows, wall-to-wall carpeting were needed. We had our piano tuned, purchased new folding chairs, installed siding on the outside, and put in new cement steps with hand rails. Different people donated most of the improvements. We all gave our love and thanks to Mrs. E. Dan Pruett for the courage, determination and the faith she had that it could be done. "This was all finished and we had our dedication service on April 25, 1974, with Dr. H. Noel Bryant, District Superintendent, presiding. Reverend John Dillard was still our pastor. From the four or five members at that time, we have grown to 21 members. We celebrated the Centennial birthday of our Joy United Methodist Church on April 12, 1981, in Joy, Texas, Clay County. As of April 1, 1982, forty-five pastors have served the church. "We give our thanks and praises to our early pioneers who had the faith and courage to keep the Methodist Church going all through the years. We are sure they had many trials, temptations and hardships along the way. But somehow God saw them through. We all owe our love and gratitude to them. And to the oldest active member, Mrs. Lillie Slaughter, who is 92 ears old and has been a member of this church for 55 years, serving as church secretary, Sunday school teacher, steward, and Sunday school superintendent. -----From all the survivors of the Joy United Methodist Church The church was closed officially in 2009. The end of an era had come. |