Bagby Methodist Church

What is now Bagby Memorial United Methodist Church has perhaps the longest history of any church in Grayson and has been one of the most prominent as well. A Methodist preaching appointment was first recorded in Grayson in 1854 and the first church building was likely constructed around that time.

This building and congregation saw a great deal of activity. Oral history suggests that Union soldiers once occupied the building during the Civil War. In the later 1800s, the church became home to Carter County’s first missionary society and Sunday School Association.

In 1914, land was purchased for a new church building, completed in 1915. However, in 1928, fire destroyed the building and most of its contents. Remarkably, the pews were saved and are still in use today. By the early 1930s, the congregation was worshipping in the current building.

One of the most remarkable features is the large stained glass windows, imported from France around 1930 and funded by local families. These remain among the finest examples