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A. J. Potter, known as the �Fighting Parson�, started the Leakey Methodist Church in 1871. Brother Potter preached under the old oak tree at the home of Mr. & Mrs. M.M.C. Patterson in Rio Frio. The next pioneer preacher sent by the Methodist Conference was H. G. Horton. He held services in the home of Nancy & John Leakey. Brother Harper and Brother Jones came on horseback to preach to the community. They didn�t always bring enough clean clothes, so their hostess often had to do their laundry.
The exact date of organization of the Leakey Methodist Church is not known. Leakey�s first schoolhouse was built in 1883 and the church met there. Brother Jones was the first preacher to preach in this building. Brother Orceneth Fisher became the preacher around this time, but died a few short months after his arrival. His son, Sterling, took over the charge at the young age of 19 and served for four years.
The first Sunday school was organized in 1883 and 1884 and was known as the Floral Sabbath School. The first teacher at Leakey�s first school, Brother Pyle, served as superintendent. In 1885 Dr. F. D. Johns took over this position.
In approximately 1885 Brother A. F. �Broad� Cox was the preacher. He was a very large man, with a very loud voice. Brother Frank Perrin was the next minister to arrive. He came over the mountain from Utopia on horseback. In 1889 Brother James Hammond arrived and stayed for four years. It was during his stay, in 1891, that the first church was built. It was located where the telephone office now stands, across from the Masonic Lodge. The male members of the congregation hauled wood and stone and built the church themselves.
Brother J. W. Gibbons followed Brother Hammond. In 1895, Brother J. C. Russell came for one year. In 1896, along came the singing Welshman, Brother V. G. Thomas. Brother Frank B. Buchanan, the presiding elder, served the Leakey church as pastor in 1897.
Our pastors from 1898 until 1922 in order were: Bros. Harper, T. D. Wools (1899-1902), L. C. Mathis, V. V. Boone, W. G. Osment, Pipkins, Worrell, Drake, Lowry, White, Stucky, Randall, Melton, Fly, Hill, Hull, Winkle, I. T. Morris, Meredith (1921) and W. D. Williamson (1922). During Brother Meredith�s ministry the old church house was condemned. The benches belonging to the church were moved to the courthouse, where serviced were held. Later the schoolhouse was used for services until 1922 when the present church was built.
Preachers following Brother Williamson were Brothers Manley, W. S. Highsmith, Burnside, J. D. Scott, J. C. Gibbons, O. C. Haley (1932) Brown, Jas. T. Wilson, David C. Roberts (1935), W. L. Jenkins (1936), H. Crowder (1937), Lynn McAden (1939), John Kincade (1942), J. R. Kidwell (1943), Warren Ellis (1945), Philip Dibrell (1947), Raymond Brink (1948), Warren Ellis (1950), John Fluth (1951), I. R. Magers (1952), A. D. Jameson (1954), W. H. Marshall (1963), Weldon Wink (1965).
Rev. Don Tumlinson served the congregation from 1969 � 1989; Rev. Harry West was pastor from 1990 �1997; Bill Fiero served from 1997 � 2000; Pastor Larry K. Tianen served from 2000 - 2004; and Pastor Doug Smith is the current leader of our Church.
The congregation had a steeple added in 1986. An office and three Sunday school rooms were added in 1995. The building was debt free when dedicated on October 1st. In 1999 the Trustees had the kitchen remodeled. In 2002, a lighted sign was erected on the southeast corner of the church property. In 2005, an expansion of the Fellowship Hall will be completed.
Current membership is 183.
