Rison Methodist Church

Submitted by Teri Lindquester and her mother, Betty England.

The Rison Methodist Church was organized at the first quarterly conference of the Toledo Circuit January 7, 1888.  Rev. Thomas H. Ware was the presiding elder and Rev. J. W. Berry was the pastor in charge.  Members of the conference present were:  J. W. Berry, paster; M. L. Hamilton, local elder; R. M. Hamilton, local preacher, and the following stewards:  S. M. McGehee, Lee McLendon, W. I. Johnson, D. B. Niven, A. L. Cason and J. T. Renfrow.  The original church building was originally located near the northeast corner of Oak and Sixth Streets in Rison.

The following churches composed the Toledo Circuit at the time:  Double Wells, Mt. Carmel, Moore's Church, Concord, Wafford's Chapel and Toledo.

There were eight charger members of the Rison church; Dr. and Mrs. C. D. Niven, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Renfrow, J. M. McMurtrey and Mrs. Josephine Boyd.  The parsonage was moved from Toledo to Rison during pastorate of Rev. R. W. McKay.