Waples Memorial United Methodist Church

In March 1873, after a survey of the newly-established town of Denison enumerated 40 citizens of the Methodist denomination, Reverend Alexander Jamison was sent to the town to organize a Methodist congregation. A new church was soon established as a mission church of the North Texas conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church south, and Reverend Z. Parker served as the first pastor. The church’s first structure was a one-room frame building located at 430 W. Skiddy street. The church was granted an official charter in 1881. Around 1887, Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Waples, for whom the church was named, became members of the young congregation after moving from Sherman to Denison. In 1888-1889, Waples released the trustees of the church from a 1,692.76 note for the amount of one dollar, relieving the church’s debt. Shortly before E.B. Waples’ death in 1898, he gave the first monetary gift to the church for the construction of a new, larger building to be erected at 830 W. Main street. Upon the completion of the new church, the congregation decided on the name Waples Memorial Methodist Church, South, to honor the faith and effort of Mr. and Mrs. Waples. A later church edifice was erected on the same property in 1965. The congregation established a Sunday school in 1910, and soon thereafter an Epworth League was formed. In 1936, the church began sponsorship of Boy Scout troup 605, which has continued since that time. Today, Waples Memorial United Methodist Church, the oldest existing Methodist Congregation in Denison, continues to serve its community.

Waples Memorial United Methodist Church is a historical marker in Denison, Grayson County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 144 historical markers documented in Grayson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 208 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.7555, -96.5475 near Denison. The nearest cataloged historic site is Lone Star Masonic Lodge No. 403, A. F. & A. M. (historical marker), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include St. Luke Church, Hopewell Baptist Church, and XXI Club.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016373. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.