Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
Milam Churches Offer Unique History Perspectives
Milam History by Joy Graham
Rockdale Reporter - April 11, 2013
Many areas where pioneers settled across the county, the schools and church shared
buildings.
In some communities families were of different faiths; two different denominations
shared the building every other Sunday.
In 1850 a small group of Cambelites joined to worship in homes in the San Gabriel area.
By 1859 they formally organized the Church in San Gabriel and Brushy Creek, Milam
County.
After floods and fire destroyed two buildings, the congregation relocated to higher
ground and built San Gabriel Christian Church in 1924. In 2005, after 159 years they
received a Texas Historical Marker.
Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ,
Evangelical Reformed Church, Evangelical Unity of Bohemian and Moravian Brethren and
Lutheran denominations organized in the many communities scattered across the county.
A drive through the rural areas today reveal many churches that served as the hub of a
community supporting a school, church and a cemetery.
On FM 485, in the Maysfield area stand across the road from each other are the
Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, a reminder of the architecture from the past.
Another of the historic Presbyterian Churches is on FM 487 in the Sharp Community. Some
of these churches still hold monthly services.
Forest Grove, Conoley, Pleasant Retreat, Liberty, Marlow, Mt. Zion, New Providence,
Little River Baptist, Val Verde Baptist, Friendship Methodist in Friendship,
Friendship Christian Church in Davilla, Catholic in Marak, Gause Methodist and Gause
Baptist Church still serve families in the rural areas of Milam County.
Milam County has some churches that are significant due to their architecture and
interior style: Marak Catholic, Sharp Presbyertan, Episcopal Church All Saints Cameron,
St. Thomas Episcopal in Rockdale, and Saint Monica Catholic has distinct and unique
interiors.
Rockdale’s old wooden Catholic Church was moved to a location for safe keeping and
protection when the new Catholic Church was built. This building is listed with Texas
Historical Commission as an Endangered Building.
Milam County has a rich church history. That history continues as Milam County Cowboy
Church just celebrated six years of Baptist service across Milam County
RESEARCH: Milam County CLG Survey 2007.
Margaret Lengert’s Master Thesis. U T ‘The History of Milam County, August 1949
.
All credit for this article goes to
Joy Graham
and the
Rockdale Reporter
Joy Graham
and the
Rockdale Reporter