Rogersville Church is one of the many forgotten churches of Austin, Texas. This history and documentation of this church has not been preserved at all. This news article will explore and explain the history behind Rogersville Church.
Rogersville Church was established, planned and plotted as a Methodist church called Rogersville Methodist Church in 1947 on what was then Austin-Lampasas Highway (Highway 29) and is now the intersection of US 183 & Loop 360. The growth in the Mesa Hills community and Spicewood Springs community necessitated the building of a church. Rev. L. L. Felder conducted a survey to clear land for construction of a new church building. (Ref: Austin American, Methodist Church To Serve Area 5 Miles North of City, Page 20, Friday, December 19, 1947)
Rev. Allen Joe Moore of Waco was appointed as the new pastor of Rogersville Methodist Church. He held several successful pastorates in different cities across Central Texas.
“According to a recent survey made in the area between Austin and Jollyville, conducted by the Rev. L. L. Felder of the extension department of Southwestern University, the growth and advancement of this community necessitates the building of a church. Due to the findings of this survey, the project of clearing land and preparing for the erection of a new church building is now underway. The new church will be known as the Rogersville Methodist Church and will be located five miles north of Austin on the Austin-Lampasas Highway, the site being donated by Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Rogers. The Rev. Allen Joe Moore of Waco, now a senior student at Southwestern University, has been appointed pastor of the new church by the Rev. R. C. Edwards, district superintendent of the Georgetown District. Moore has held successful pastorates at Gause, Milano, Nolanville, and Jarrell during his work at Southwestern.”
The parcel of land Rogersville Methodist Church was built on was a parcel owned by C. N. Rogers and James Rogers which the church was named after. Wm. Bell was one of the builders of this church.
However it would not be until the date of Friday, April 15, 1949 that construction would start on the erection of Rogersville Methodist Church. That is because the survey planning to 2 years to complete and the reverends had to get approval from Austin City Council. Construction would begin on the date of Friday, April 15, 1949 and ended a day later. Rogersville Methodist Church would be a 36 x 18 foot frame building. (Ref: Austin American, Carpenters Union To Build Church, Page 14, Friday, April 15, 1949)
“The Austin Carpenters Union 1266, in keeping with its policy of aiding worthy causes, will build a 36 by 18-foot frame building for the Rogersville Methodist Church on Highway 29 northwest of Austin. Twenty or more carpenters will donate a day's labor. Chester V. Smith of Austin, union business agent, has announced. The building is expected to be completed during the day. The new church will be built on land donated by C. N. Rogers. Women of the Rogersville congregation and members of the carpenters' union auxiliary will provide food and coffee for the workers. The Rev. R. B. Hooper, Georgetown, retired Methodist minister, is pastor of the Rogersville congregation. Trustees of the new church include Rogers, R. J. Muennink, F. H. Herring, David Norwood and Bruce Francis.”
A new Boy Scout Troop was organized at Rogersville Methodist Church on what was then called the Burnet Highway in 1950. (Ref: Austin American, Scoutmaster Named For Rogersville Troop, Page 12, Friday, September 29, 1950)
“Ralph G. Hasten has been named scoutmaster for newly-organized Boy Scout Troop 90 at Rogersville Methodist Church on the Burnet Highway. Chairman W. E. Sims heads a troop committee including R. J. Muennick. John W. Zwiener and Dudley Miller. The troop meets on Tuesday nights at the church. Scouts are Edward Becker, Norman Becker, Raymond Hammack, Jerry Sims, Royce Walden, Jimmy Warwick and Jerry Zwiener.”
Miss Ruth Simons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Simons of Edna, assisted in church work at Rogersville Methodist Church, serving as church school superintendent and teacher. She also finds time to be very active in campus affairs, including membership in Kappa Chi. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.om/newspage/385993956/)
Rogersville Methodist Church stil stood extant is the same position alongside Highway 29 in 1955. No known renovations were done at the time. The 1955 USGS Austin topographic quadrangle depicted more than three to ten structures adjacent to Rogersville Church, just northwest of the US 183 and MoPac intersection. (Ref: https://www.183north.com/2014.12.15_183NArcheologyBackgroundFinal-2.pdf)
Sunday School began at 9:45 a. m. and the Sunday sermon began at 10:45 a. m. on a weekly basis. A pastor would be in charge of facilitating these classes and sermons.
For some reason was renamed to St. Matthews Methodist Church in 1955. Rogersville Church would no longer be called Rogersville Methodist Church. Any mention of Rogersville Methodist Church or Rogersville Church vanished by 1960 after the 1950s decade. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/359924310/)
Rogersville Methodist Church was demolished to make way for expansion of Highway 183 and Loop 360 in 1981. Today no traces of Rogersville Church. The site of Rogersville Church is now currently used to store material for roads and is property of the State of Texas. 
Rogersville Church was located at Loop 360 & US 183, Austin, Texas, US.
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