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Article from The Eagle Democrat, Warren, Arkansas
Wednesday, May 25, 1966, Page 7
Submitted by Robbie Reaves
Churches of Bradley County ~ Palestine Methodist Church -- Johnsville
History:
The Palestine Methodist Church is the oldest church in Bradley County, having been founded by people who came to this section of Arkansas approximately 120 years ago in the 1840's.
William Martin, grandfather of Mrs. O. M. Douglas, who resides near the Church, gave the land on which the Church is located. He also gave the land for the Church located immediately across the road. This is also named Palestine Methodist and colored people have worshipped there for many years.
The old Palestine Church's first home was in a log cabin near the present Church site. Later, a frame building was erected. This was done in slavery times, and the burial sites of slaves may still be found near the old Palestine Cemetery.
The Palestine Methodist Church is located about two miles south of Johnsville in one of the first Bradley County areas to be settled.
Mrs. Douglas has an old record book of the proceedings of various quarterly conferences, etc., of the Church organization. It begins four years after the end of the War Between the States with a quarterly conference of the Palestine circuit of the Camden District of the Little Rock Conference ME Church. This was conducted at Sardis on February 6, 1869. These were the Churches or Church meeting places listed for the quarterly conference in Bradley County: Palestine, Sardis and Moro, Pleasant Valley, Pennington's School House, Mt. Zion and Mt. Vernon, Hickory Grove, and Union Hill. Total contributions from all sources and during the quarter amounted to $260.00. Top gifts came from Palestine and Mr. Zion and Mt. Vernon.
The quarterly conferences lasted two days Saturday and Sunday.
NOTE: From: Randy Cauley <rcauley@sat-co.net>
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002
Subject: Re: [ARBRADLE] Palestine Methodist Church
To: ARBRADLE-L@rootsweb.com
Palestine is celebrating it's 145th birthday this year. Last Sunday morning, a special business meeting took place to discuss repairing the front wall of the sanctuary where, over time and due to weather, the wall has begun buckling. Repairs will be expensive, but the majority wanted to see that the old building remained and would be repaired. I talked with Mr. Otha Temple after church. He told me about his father attending school there in the late 1800's, and that the sanctuary at one time was a 2 story. He said at one time there was a Masonic temple on the 2nd floor.
My dad is pastor of Palestine. My wife and kids, along with my sisters were there Sunday for a suprise birthday party the church gave my mom. Just
a little info I thought I would pass along. ~ Randy
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