BOND MEMORIAL UMC

A Rich Heritage: The Story of Bond Memorial United Methodist Church

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This history of Bond Memorial United Methodist Church, originally composed by long-time member Lucy Ann Richards Worsham (1926-2009) and recently updated by current member Holly Fields, tells the story of a church deeply intertwined with the community of Clint, Texas.

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For many, Clint holds a special place as their birthplace, the town where generations have grown up, married, and raised their families, both within the local schools and the embrace of Bond Memorial United Methodist Church. While younger generations have ventured globally for their careers, the pull of home remains strong, with Clint serving as a cherished gathering place.

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This narrative draws from various sources, including the invaluable insights of Fern Churchill Fields, the oldest living member of the church at the time of the original history writing (who turned 98 in December 2001), a book from Clint Founder's Day (May 3, 1981), a brief church history, and Ann Oden Jensen's book, The Time of Rosie, which vividly portrays early life in this rustic, rural area.

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Clint: A Town Forged by River and Rail

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Clint's origins are rooted in a fertile green valley, historically nourished by the meandering Rio Grande. The town's very existence was spurred by the arrival of the railroad, which designated Clint as a mail drop-off point for the town of San Elizario, then the El Paso County Seat. The town's name itself is thought to honor either a Texas Ranger who protected the community from Pancho Villa's raiders or Mrs. Clinton Collins, who held the contract for mail delivery to San Elizario.

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As Eugene Field aptly wrote in a favorite childhood story, "I wasn't there I simply state, What was told to me by the Chinese plate!" This history, too, is a compilation of stories and records, aiming for the most precise and accurate account possible given the available information.

 

 

Early Days and the Church's Founding Before a dedicated church structure existed, the faithful gathered in homes, the dining room of a hotel (now an abandoned movie theater), or the two-room schoolhouse on Brown and Lawson Streets. While that schoolhouse eventually burned, piles of yellow bricks marked its former location for years.

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Our church was formally named after Reverend H.P. Bond, who was appointed to Clint on October 18, 1906, arriving on February 19, 1907.

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Prior to the railroad's arrival, Clint was primarily home to a few farm families and laborers who cultivated the rich, silty soil deposited by centuries of the Rio Grande's shifts. Early families included the Apodaca, Carr, Celum, Davila, Escobar, Elam, and Silva families. Later arrivals, from 1908 through the 1930s, included the Jeff Jones family (1908), the J.A. Fields family (1911), the Edgar D. Browns, Fenters, Kellogs, Doroughs, Uncle Johnny Schairer, Stahmans, Daltons, Stallings, Surratts, Richards, Wolcotts, and Worshams.

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Life was frugal in those early days. Without electricity or gas, residents relied on coal oil lamps for light and cooking, and mesquite wood in potbellied stoves for heat. Notably, the telephone, brought by Craig Humble, arrived in Clint before electricity and gas.

The church's sanctuary and belfry were constructed in 1910 by Fern Fields' grandfather, A.F. Humble, and his sons, Craig and Ace.

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Growth, Raids, and Outreach

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Under Reverend Franklin Cramer's service (1907-1909), thirty-three members joined the church on February 19, 1907. Reverend Bond returned to Clint on September 27, 1909, serving until 1912. The years between 1911 and 1916 were fraught with danger due to Mexican bandit and Pancho Villa raids along the U.S.-Mexican border. Clint, being just three miles from the river, was a frequent target. In a testament to dedication, the church's pastor would sleep on a cot in the open belfry to keep watch. Upon spotting raiders, he would ring the church bell, alerting the San Elizario telephone center, which would then activate a special ring on all area telephones to warn the town. Women and children would seek sanctuary in the church, while men armed themselves to protect their property. Other families would find safety in the sandhills until daylight.

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During these tumultuous years, Baptists and Methodists shared the church building. When a Baptist minister was present, the Methodist and Baptist pastors would preach on alternate Sundays. On his Sundays off, Reverend Bond ventured to Ysleta to establish a preaching point, taking the first twelve members into that congregation on October 24, 1909. Ysleta was removed from the Clint charge in 1922. In 1919, Reverend John W. Hendrix from the Clint church began preaching in Fabens, Texas, with fourteen people joining on September 26, 1920. Fabens remained on the Clint charge until sometime between 1924 and 1929. A quarterly conference report from July 1, 1919, noted that Reverend J.H. Golden reported starting an Epworth League and organizing a church in Hachita, New Mexico, with eight members. It's believed that the Hachita group and a group in Apache formed and received a pastor due to the Stein and Krebaum families moving there from Clint. Between July 6, 1919, and January 21, 1921, the Women’s Aid Society was organized in Clint, a testament to its growing community spirit.

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The arrival of the railroad and the construction of the Elephant Butte Dam on the Rio Grande in New Mexico brought prosperity to the productive valley and our small town, fostering the growth of cotton, grain, onions, chili, and pecans.

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Overcoming Challenges and Building Community

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Water scarcity was a persistent challenge, with shallow wells yielding brackish water. Sterling Roberts, who homesteaded north of Clint, had a deep well with good water. He would manually pump water into large tanks and transport it by mule-drawn wagon to the Dalton and Jones store, where it was sold for 5 cents a gallon as drinking water. Later, he upgraded to a Model T Ford for transport.

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The ladies of the church were instrumental in fundraising, holding bake sales, ice cream socials, and box suppers to support the church's needs. The first organ, for example, was purchased for $80.00 through these efforts. Lillian White served as organist for over fifty years.

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Church picnics were a cherished tradition, held down at the Rio Grande where the bridge crossed over to "The Island," a fertile section of farmland. Before the Elephant Butte Dam, the river would often surge bank to bank. Picnickers would feast on homegrown vegetables and fruits, fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs, and washtubs of lemonade. They enjoyed fish fries, played ball, pitched horseshoes, swam, folk danced, and sang to guitar music. In later years, church necessities were funded by enchilada suppers, early morning breakfasts, and silver teas.

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The fellowship hall was added between 1932 and 1936, with Brother Ab Abercrombie performing most of the work. Later, Reverend Lester Bruner worked on the educational wing, and the church was re-dedicated on April 27, 1947, with Bishop W. Angle Smith and Dr. L.L. Evans participating. A significant harvest celebration with Bishop Alsie Carleton in attendance occurred during Reverend Aubrey Walley's ministry.

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The first parsonage was built by A.F. Humble. The present parsonage, located across the street from the church, was constructed during the pastorate of R.O. Tomlinson (1947-1949), with the lots generously donated by John and Jessie Surratt. A renovation and new addition were completed in May 2000 during Reverend Scott Spitsberg's appointment, supervised by Sam Hays.

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Enduring Legacy: Gifts and Dedicated Service

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The enduring love for this humble, proud little church is evident in the numerous gifts and memorials that have enhanced its beauty and grace and helped perpetuate God's word.

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• The beautiful old stained-glass windows were given by Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Ollie Fields.

• The Narthex window was given by Frances Mary Davidson Strickland in memory of her grandmother, Mrs. Eva Hartsfield.

• The church's second organ was given by Antha Mae Davidson.

• The carved altar, communion table, and chairs were given in memory of Kenneth Spear.

• The brass altar was given by Happy and Leota Richards.

• The children's chapel was given in memory of Happy Richards.

• The restoration of the antique stained-glass windows was done in memory of Leota Richards and her sister Della Capps.

• The two large pictures of Christ were given by Bob and Helen Skov.

• The fellowship hall is dedicated to the memory of Dave and Lillian White, who left a perpetual gift to the church, as did Antha Mae Davidson.

• The new inlaid wooden portrait of Christ was made and given by Art and Tess Harris.

• A beautiful oil painting of the church was done by Delphia Ann Schairer and given by the family.

• Guy and Jeannie Fields gave a piano.

• The clocks in the sanctuary and fellowship hall were gifts from Gary and Suzanne Ritchey shortly after their marriage. Gary’s uncle owned a clock shop in El Paso and these were gifted to him. 

• Pew pads and ceiling fans were also generous gifts.

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Over the years, many pastors have served the Clint and Clint-Fabens charges, some for a year, others for several, and some even reassigned a second time. Notable pastors include H.P. Bond, J.J. Golden, John Hendrix, Brother Ab, John Carpenter, Aubrey Walley (both served as World War II chaplains), Lester Bruner, Joe Scrimshire, Edwin Chappell, Johnny Kahl, James Large, Homer Reid, Ditterline, Mike Stahl, and Hugh Roberts. Recent records indicate service of Scott Spitsberg (1999–2003), Carol Tuck (2003-2005), Todd Seelau (2007-2008), and Steve Roberts (2008-2009). In 2009, Janice Kahl, widow of former pastor Johnny Kahl, arrived and served until 2015. Following her were Frances Gonzalez (2015-2018), Nema LeCuyer (2018-2020), Lourdes Calderon (2020-2022), and David Bynum (Lay Supply, 2022-2023). Jacqui Lax served from 2023 to 2025, and Ernesto Enrique Barriguete arrived in July 2025 from the North Carolina Conference, returning close to his family roots.

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Throughout this procession of ministers, one layperson consistently held the church together: Jean Stallings Jones. She wore many hats, serving as Chairman of the Church Council, Director of Bible School, Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, choir member, and organizer of every potluck dinner. Her mother, Gladys Stalling, along with Jean's sisters Kathleen, Helen, and Sharon, were a significant positive force for the church, all earning perfect Sunday School attendance awards as children. Jean's memory continues to shine through her unwavering devotion to the church in many of today’s current members.

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In addition to Jean, Julie McAdams Jones and Waynelle Strachan also proved instrumental, ensuring the successful completion of many church endeavors. While our membership may not overflow the current walls, Bond Memorial United Methodist Church strives to be a light in the community by providing many outreach services. We warmly invite you to share in this rich heritage at a service and fellowship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m.

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