THE LITTLE WHITE CHURCH ON THE PRAIRIE with comments by Mary Newton Maxwell

My paternal grandmother, Lenora McCreary Williams, was born and grew up in Parker County, Texas.  She referred to the land as rolling prairie. When she was eight years old, her parents, William Rankin and Avis McCreary, joined the Grindstone Branch of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by letter.  The year was 1871

I first saw the little church in 1956.  I attended the funeral of my great-uncle, George C. Williams, with my dad.  The church was full, and we stood with the crowd gathered outside the church.  G.C. Williams was buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. There are several Williams relatives buried there.  The church had been renamed Newberry Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  It had been rebuilt in 1955.  A fellowship hall was added in 2004.

This year was the 150^th anniversary of the church. Mary Maxwell encouraged my family to attend the annual homecoming in September.  We were among 100 attendees.

Mary Maxwell wrote this account of the day:  “150 years ago our ancestors donned their Sunday best, loaded their children and their food, even their cooking goods on their wagons.  They made the trek to Grindstone Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  When they arrived, they ‘commenced’ (that’s what their journals say) to the cooking, the preachin’, the praying, the singing, and the fellowship with other family and friends.  Today, we did the same thing, albeit with automobile and already prepared food.  The Church is now located right down the road and is now called Newberry Cumberland Presbyterian Church, after the family who donated the land and since it’s relocation, it has indoor plumbing (although the outhouses are still on the property).  But one thing has not changed….”we commenced preachin’, praying and singing.”  I think our Ancestors would be proud!”

Worship and fellowship are held in the little church on the 2^nd and 4^th Sundays of each month at 11 A.M.

**** Mary Newton Maxwell is a diligent genealogist and historian.  We are connected by my great-grandmother mentioned above, Avis Maxwell McCreary.  Before she retired, Mary did genealogy research for two hours every morning before going to her job at 8 A.M.  I sent Mary a picture of my great-grandmother Avis .  I remarked that the old lady looked to be part Indian because of her black hair.  There was silence.  Finally, Mary quietly said, “Charlcy, look at that picture again.  She has on a black bonnet.”  So much for my observation skills!

The Weatherford Public Library has copies of journals (called day books) of family members and other Parker County pioneers.  Mary was allowed to copy them. She transcribed and bound the journals. The winter of 2001 was frigid and icy.  I stayed inside for days at a time reading those journals.  The minutes of the Newberry Cumberland Presbyterian Church are also there.

Mary is an excellent writer.  I recommend her book, “Smiley,” which can be purchased from Amazon.