The Methodist Church is possibly the oldest existing
building in our town, or at least the oldest existing building whose erection
date was documented. And though much of the Purvis community was involved in
this project, through donations and/or labor, two individuals are singled out by
past historians for their important roles in the establishment of this church in
1857. 
Edward Livingston not only donated the land for the
church site, but also donated $500, a fund to be matched by the community. This
fundraising chore was taken on by Jane Purvis, the local school
teacher. Jane's parents worked for Mr. Livingston. Her father, Samuel, was the
caretaker for the Livingston farm and her mother, named Samantha in Jack
Sliter's biography of the Livingstons but is named what looks like on her
weathered headstone as Sattilla, worked as Livingston's housekeeper. Some
historians have the Purvis family living on the premises. If so, Jane certainly
would have had the opportunity to express her thoughts on the need for a church
to Mr. Livingston.
Young, energetic, and persistent, Jane not only signed on subscribers in Purvis,
but also many people from our neighboring communities. Her efforts were rewarded
when she was able to double the matching fund stipulated by Mr. Livingston. Past
town historian, Herb Mussman, puts Jane's age during this time as "barely
20 years of age", but her headstone cites her death in
1908 at the age of 77. This would have her being around 25 years young during
this period. By the way, Jane, her parents, and Edward Livingston are all buried
in the Rock Avenue Cemetery, right behind the church that they helped create.
Fred