The United Presbyterian Church of Montague County marks its 149th year in the county with activities June 14-15.
On June 14 starting at 10 a.m. visit the Stonewall Saloon Museum in Saint Jo to view a variety of artifacts from the church. The museum is located on the northeast corner of the town square. From 2-4 p.m. coffee and cake will be served at the church located at 300 W. Nelson.
On June 15, coffee will be served at 9:30 a.m. at the church in Bowie followed by the 10:30 a.m. worship service and communion. At noon there will be a celebratory luncheon after the service.
The current Presbyterian church building was constructed in 1964. The current congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of Montague County is the culmination of the merger of the Saint Jo Presbyterian Church with the Nocona Presbyterian Church, which then merged with First Presbyterian Church of Bowie.
The original pulpit and chairs, brought from New York by the Rev. James Anderson, are on display at the Stonewall Saloon Museum in Saint Jo.
The Rev. Anderson arrived in Saint Jo in June of 1876 to become the first Presbyterian minister. He became widely known and came to be considered the father of Presbyterianism in North-Western Texas.
Anderson built the first church in 1878 and held the pastorate for some 40 years before going to Bowie to help establish the church there. Rev. Anderson opened the doors of his church to all denominations. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery next to his wife Sarah.