Methodist Annual Conference in Texas

The Rev. Martin Ruter (1785-1838) came to Texas as a missionary for the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1837. A town called Rutersville and Rutersville College, both located here, were named in his honor. Bishop Beverly Waugh arrived in Galveston in early December 1840. His mission was to visit Texas Methodists and to assemble and organize the first annual conference. Accompanied by Thomas O. Summers, Waugh traveled to Austin, where on December 20 he preached in the Capitol. Bishop Waugh arrived in Rutersville on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas Day he called the conference into session at Rutersville College. During the four day meeting the delegates elected Thomas O. Summers secretary of the conference, heard reports of the nine preachers present, admitted four new preachers, and ordained two deacons. The Texas Missionary Society also met, and plans were made for the second annual conference to be held in San Augustine in 1841. Following its humble beginnings here in 1840, the Texas conference of the Methodist Church grew steadily, eventually to include additional annual conferences within the state.

Methodist Annual Conference in Texas is a historical marker in La Grange, Fayette County, dedicated in 1990. It is one of 121 historical markers documented in Fayette County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 180 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.9422, -96.7955 near La Grange. The nearest cataloged historic site is Rutersville College (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Rutersville, Robinson, and Biegel.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5149001740. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.