Catesby United Methodist Church - Est. 1908
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You should be able to turn onto the paved road going West and park on the North side in the grass.
Catesby United Methodist Church - 1908 to Present. Four miles West on the paved road is the Catesby United Methodist Church, a place very near and dear to my heart. I have attended church here since I was born, a few thirty something years ago, and started singing here at the age of 4. Although I’ve since moved to Kansas, my son and I still attend here at least once a month. My mom still serves as the piano player, and my Dad is the song leader.
The atmosphere is somewhat laid back, including JEANS being acceptable Sunday attire, but the message you receive and the joyful feeling you have when you leave the doors is worth being there at 9:30 am Sunday morning.
The loving, caring, and all-around welcoming feeling you get from the people at this church, I have not been able to match elsewhere. Hearing my Mom pounding away at the piano and the uplifting chorus of voices during the music service is an experience you don't want to miss. Although they are elated to have a crowd of 30, their general attendance runs in the lower 20’s. The fact that it is still a functioning church in the middle of nowhere after 103 YEARS amazes me and is a true testament to the foundation it has been for the many individuals that have passed through its doors.
In the words of Methodist Bishop Robert E. Hayes, “The next time you pray, thank God for the small churches of Oklahoma. Offer words of appreciation for those congregations with solid Christian foundations that launch many of us into the world.
The next time you drive past an unfamiliar small church, nod your head in honor of what takes place within those walls. More importantly, go and visit a small church. Among the few who will be in attendance, you will find Christ as well.”
THE HISTORY
The town of Catesby was founded in 1902 by Eben and Ella Rose, who left their home in Rochester, NY for Indian Territory in 1901. In January of 1902, Mrs. Ella Rose sent a petition to the U.S. Postal Department to establish a post office in their residence. Along with her petition, Mrs. Rose sent her application for appointment of the position of Postmaster. The office was to be named Cottonwood Springs. There was already a post office in Oklahoma by that name so the state selected the name Catesby, in honor of an old General in the Mexican War, Catesby ap Roger Jones.
When the Sunny Slope School house (3 miles north of Catesby) and the Pleasant View School house (3 miles east of Catesby) were built, they were also used for regular Sunday School and occasional church services. In 1908 these groups joined together and chose the present location to build a church, which is 1 mile east of the Catesby townsite.
The Trustees met July 29, 1908 with the building committee to come up with a plan to raise money for the material to build the church. They elected to borrow $700.00 for six months or until subscriptions were paid in order that work might begin on the building of the new church.
On December 18, 1915 an organ was bought from Williams Pianos & Organs Co., Chicago, Illinois for $63.00. $15.00 of this was paid in cash and a note was made for the remaining $48.00.
The minutes of the Sunday School show a large attendance throughout the years while the community was thickly populated. Many Sundays show more than 100 present.
When the depression and dust bowl days came in the 1930’s, people started moving out of the community. Support for the church was so meager they could not hire a preacher or pay conference dues. The church was out of the conference from 1946 until 1952. During this period Mr. Ralph Owens lived on his farm one mile east of the church and gave his services as pastor for a percentage of the free will offering taken each Sunday. When his health caused him to leave the farm Mrs. Emma Jenkins pastored the church under the same plan. Sunday School services were never dropped. In June 1952, the church was reorganized.
Many improvements have been made in the church building over the years. From kerosene wall lamps to gasoline hanging Lamps, electricity finally followed when R.E.A. came to the community. The old coal stove gave over to butane and later to natural gas. The high ceiling was lowered and storm windows added to aid in heating. The Bell Tower that stood vacant for 50 years now has a bell hanging in it, thanks to the generosity of Frank Mann from Arnett, Oklahoma. The bell was originally in the Lone Star School house located north of Arnett and purchased by Mr. Mann when the building was sold. When he was approached by Stacy and Anson Woods (who had attended the school and heard the bell so many times) to see if he would sell the bell to the Catesby Church he replied no he would not sell it but if it was to be hung in the Bell Tower he would give it to the church. It is now hanging in the church tower where every Sunday, the rope is given a pull by the kids attending church. In 1943 Mr. & Mrs. L. S. Polin set cedar trees in front of the church.
In 1964, a larger building for the Sunday School classes and a community building was purchased. The building was bought from Edith (Baker) Shepherd. The building was moved from the Baker farm to its present location near the church.
So many have done so much to keep the Catesby United Methodist Church a place of worship in this community. We thank the Lord for keeping the light shining in our area and pray that the light may keep shining from this little country church for many years to come.
"For when two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." (Matthew 18:20)
NOTE : History data is found from the historical files of the church, the Northwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society, and the XXIX Volume of Chronicles of Oklahoma, as well as from information given by Mrs. L. S. Polin to Beulah Woods.
Additional Hints
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