Homecoming events, special
worship service mark 150 years
of service, ministry at Dewville UMC



Dewville UMC celebrated its 150th anniversary March 24 and 25.
Attending the homecoming event March 24 were descendants of early area settlers, previous residents of the community who had grown up in Dewville and attended the Dewville School, and current residents of the area.
More than 300 participants attended the celebration. Bishop Joel N. Martinez and other special guests attended a sesquicentennial worship service March 25.
The participants at the 150th anniversary celebration were entertained by a number of musical groups and singers. Performers included Jack and Marymichael Rogers and their son, John, of Wimberley. Playing guitars and fiddles, they sang old hymns and popular country music.
Local area favorite Dottsy Dwyer performed. Dwyer is a descendant of early Dewville residents. Her mother and aunt attended the Dewville School and sang in the Dewville church as young girls.
Another favorite local singer, Wiley Echols Jr., performed. He, too, has family living in the Dewville area.
Singer Margie Rice from Leesville entertained the crowd.
The music continued through the day with those attending the homecoming singing in the church, accompanied by Richard Batey on the piano. A delicious meal was served by Werner’s of Shiner.
Each family attending the Saturday homecoming was photographed. A special archive is being created to continue the story of the church and its families. Descendants brought family photos to share with everyone as well as many community photos, including photographs of the Dewville School from the 1890s to the 1940s. Current residents of Dewville are being
added to the archive.
A special award of recognition, a beautiful plaque, was given to Andy “Sonny” Batey and Grace Batey of Dewville for their lifelong dedication and loving support of the Dewville Church. Their attendance and support helped keep Dewville UMC going when there were few to attend church.
The award for the Most Senior person attending went to Lucille Dunn, a descendant of the Hensley family of Dewville. The Farthest Travelers were Margie Cowey Moore and her daughter, Shirley Honea, both from Alabama, descendants of the Cowey family of Dewville.
The church overflowed March 25 with those attending the special 150th worship service. Besides the bishop, special guests included Corpus Christi District Superintendent Barbara J. Ruth and Pastor J.C. Williams of Harris Chapel UMC, Nixon.
Former Dewville UMC pastors Nell Linebarger and Ceil McKinney attended. The current Dewville UMC pastor is John Britsch.
Special music was provided by the Moore sisters of Nixon and Beverly Houston from Houston. The four Moore sisters are Evelyn Moore Coleman, Dorothy Jean Moore, Eloise Moore McKin-ney and Laverne Moore Fatheree. Evelyn Coleman, the church pianist for many years, played the piano. The Moore sisters’ talents have been a blessing for the Dewville and Harris Chapel UMCs for many years.
The special service was attended by the descendants of the Circuit Riders, including the Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss, the Rev. Thomas Gilbert Russell and the Rev. James E. Vernor.
Martinez spoke to the congregation about being a missionary by finding the way to be truly dedicated to the work that God wants us to accomplish in our lives as Christians. He spoke of giving, without thought of ourselves, and of those who
have done and given so much.
Special Holy Communion was offered. Following the worship service, a delicious brunch was served in the fellowship hall.
Early settlers in the area were part of DeWitt’s Colony, established in 1825, in what is now Gonzales County. Beginning about 1842, these pioneers, living near the confluence of Sandies Creek and McCoy Creek, met in homes to worship.
In the 1840s a log building was constructed to serve as a church, meeting place and school. In 1851 this log building was destroyed by a fire, but another building was constructed.
The Sandies Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was established March 28, 1857.
In the 1880s, when cotton crops failed across the area, many people moved away. The township of Dewville was established in 1885.
In 1897 the community wanted to continue the Methodist Church at Dewville, and the church was permitted to operate under the 1857 Sandies Chapel charter. Its name was changed to the Dewville Methodist Church.
Construction of the current church building began in 1897 and was completed in 1906. Today the Dewville UMC is a thriving church, a recognized welcoming church and a “laity-driven congregation.” It has 53 members.