Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church

This church was organized as early as 1854 when a deed for 2.5 acres was issued to the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. According to oral history, the congregation first met in a log cabin on the property. The structure served as both church and school. Originally called the Black Fork Church, the congregation was known as Pleasant Retreat Society in 1861 and was renamed Pleasant Retreat Church by 1875. African Americans were included among the church membership from its early days. In June 1877, the church acquired land on which the Pleasant Retreat Cemetery was later established. In July, William T. McClure, recognized as an early leader of the congregation, deeded 5.9 acres of land on which the church held popular camp meetings each August. In 1897 a white frame church building was erected near the camp meeting tabernacle. The building served until 1928 when fire damage prompted the membership to build a new brick building on Dixie Drive on land donated by member Walter E. Beaird. In 1938 a full-time preacher was appointed. The congregation continued to grow, its facilities expanding as necessary. Renamed the Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church in 1968, the church in the heart of the rose fields of Tyler continues a long tradition of worship and community service. (1998)

Pleasant Retreat United Methodist Church is a historical marker in Tyler, Smith County, dedicated in 1998. It is one of 90 historical markers documented in Smith County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 272 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.3591, -95.3907 near Tyler. The nearest cataloged historic site is Smith County (historical marker), about 0.4 miles away. Others within a short drive include Beaird Cemetery #2, Beaird Cemetery #1, and Hudson Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5423012195. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.