Our congregation was founded as Harrison Chapel in 1855. The town of Harrison Chapel, named after the church, was one of the first communities in Freestone County. George Harrison donated the land for Harrison Chapel. The story is told that Mr. Harrison said, “Let’s build a church”. The neighbors then banded together, cut sweet gum logs, and built the church, that was located by a spring near Chinquapin Creek. It can now found about two miles off Farm Road 489 and four miles southwest of Dew, Texas. There was no preacher at the time, so Mr. Harrison filled that job, too. Dew United Methodist Church still owns this land. There were twelve original members.

In 1870, as the population grew around what is now Dew, Texas, the congregation moved to its current location, which is at the intersection of State Highway 75 and Farm Road 489. It was named Sunshine Methodist Church. The name changed as the name of the town changed from Sunshine to Dew in 1885, when the Post Office opened. The Sanctuary, which we use today, was built in 1910, during the pastorate of Reverend Allen Tooke. The first piano was purchased in that same year. There have been three churches built on this 10-acre site. For many years, the local minister would reside in the parsonage across from Dew United Methodist. He would serve the Dew, Donie, and Lanely churches. In those days, the preacher’s equipment was a pair of saddlebags containing a Bible, hymnbooks, and a book of the Disciplines. He also required a good horse.

A highlight of these early years of the church was Quarterly Conference when the District Superintendent, each noted for his strong and forceful sermons, would preach. Notable among these District Superintendents was Dr. Joe Tower, father of U. S. Senator John Tower. This was a time for fellowship, and always included “Dinner on the Grounds”, with singing and visiting added to the rousing sermons. Now known as Dew United Methodist Church, the church has been in continuous operation since 1870.

In the early life of the church, it also hosted Camp Meetings, which usually lasted two weeks. Members of the congregation and their guests camped on the church grounds and shared this time of worship together. They carried stoves and other provisions. The ladies would meet in special prayer groups and the men in separate prayer groups. It seems that in those days, if a man wasn’t saved, they preached to him until they persuaded him to go to church and be saved.

Dew United Methodist had annual summer revival meetings. These were held under a brush arbor to afford coolness. J. C. Lambert started a fund to build a tabernacle to permanently replace the annual building of the brush arbor. It was built in 1966; by a group headed by Mr. A. D. “Nig” English, and serves the church and the community as a place for open air meetings. The church currently uses the tabernacle for its Annual Easter Son-Rise Service, revivals in good weather, singings, Homecomings, and various meetings and gatherings.

Our current congregation has learned much from our predecessors and has inherited many of its qualities from the forefathers of our church family. We still respond when God calls us to serve Him, just as Mr. Harrison did. Our other members all pitch in and help just like his neighbors did. We serve where we are needed, as Mr. Harrison did as preacher, even if we don’t feel qualified. For we know that God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the one He calls. We still use the historic Sanctuary and Tabernacle because they provide a taproot for our congregation. But we have up-dated the facilities with indoor plumbing, electrical wiring, a sound system, central air and heat, and other modern amenities. This reminds us that our Savior is with us and provides for us. We still enjoy a rousing sermon, singing, and fellowship. We take advantage of every opportunity to praise God with each of these. Finally, we still recognize that each of us is called to bring the lost into the love of our Lord and Savior. We will still answer that Call to serve God in the Dew community.

Worthy Is Your Name