

Castell is home of one of the first churches established in Llano County. Much of the town’s history lies within Trinity United Methodist Church, but it is the settlers of Castell who paved the way for 167 years of worship and service for Methodists.
A man of many who make up the rich history of the church is Reverend Charles A. Grote. Grote was born in Mackenbruch, Oerlinghausen, Lippe Detmold, Germany November 10, 1819. He emigrated from Germany to Texas in 1845.
In Galveston, Grote became acquainted with the Methodist Church and joined. He worked in his community as a leader and local preacher until 1848, when he joined the Texas Conference and became a traveling preacher. His first destination was Victoria, and from there he was sent to Fredericksburg, where he worked for five years.
While Grote was pastor at Fredericksburg, he made excursions northward to the German settlements up and down the Llano River. In 1852 he preached at Castell, then Lower Willow in 1853, Upper Willow (now Art) in 1856, and Beaver Creek (now Hilda) in 1856. During those years, he held services in homes and under a large live oak tree near the home of August Leifeste Sr. The Castell Methodist Church was organized and founded March 8, 1856.
In 1871, when Charles A. Grote was sent to the Llano Circuit for the second time, a picket house was constructed that served as church and parsonage on ten acres of land. Grote and two of this sons, Carl August and Charles Henry, helped with the cutting and hauling of the pickets with ox teams. In 1880 a stone building was erected for a house of worship and the old house was used for a parsonage. A steeple was added to the church in 1891, and an addition was built to the church in 1990. The old parsonage was sold in 1899. In 1908 a new parsonage was built near the church.
The name became Trinity Methodist Church in 1939, when the Castell Methodist Episcopal Church, South, combined with the Hoersterville Methodist Church. In 1968, when the Methodist Church and Evangelical United Brethren Church united, it became Trinity United Methodist Church. The name remains today.
Trinity United Methodist Church owned several tracts of land. It was decided to sell most of that land in 2017. The parsonage and approximately four acres of land was bought by Jennifer Hollingshead and became Twisted River Resort, operating as a successful bed and breakfast. Ten acres was sold to Dennis Cavner. The remaining 30 acres was sold to Jim Leifeste.
Denise Kennedy signed each deed, her signature representing the church. It was with a fiduciary duty to the church that the person signing was to make sure that the property was sold for a fair price. Prices have been speculated since, and unlike a standard real estate sale, the properties were not appraised by a real estate agent, and there were no listings on the market or bids taken. It seems that Castell folks and the general public did not even know the property was going to be for sale.
The buying, selling, and leasing of land held by an active United Methodist Church is decided by that local church with the permission of the pastor and district superintendent. “That is the process that was followed in the sale of the land,” said Kendall Waller, Director of Financial and Administrative Ministries, Methodist Rio Texas Annual Conference. “Recently the church made the decision to close. They requested that at the time of closing, the land occupied by the cemetery be given to the Castell Cemetery Association and that the land occupied by the church building be given to the Castell Preservation Association and that the remaining financial assets of the church be divided between these two associations for future maintenance of the lands. The conference trustees approved this course of action.”
When members of First United Methodist Church first learned of the church’s closing, emotions such as outrage, sadness and frustration were eminent. Members were not sent a written notification regarding the church’s closure and were left feeling powerless, as if they had no say so in the decision. It does not take regular Sunday morning attendance to feel strongly bonded to a church.
Through family lineage and community involvement, many hearts feel connected to the church and are saddened to see its doors closed for Sunday morning worship. “Many of the children who grew up with that church have many good memories and a strong connection to that church and community, even if they don’t live there,” said Virginia “Ginger” Schuessler. “My family was a member of the church until sometime during the 1950s. It was a strong church with many families with children from the surrounding area.”
Arlene Leifeste recalled, “My two grown children walked me down the aisle as Larry Leifeste played ‘You Light Up My Life’ on my wedding day in 1981.” When asked what she will miss the most about the church, Arlene replied, “I will miss the memories and knowing that my dad, Arthur Frederick Leifeste, walked those halls.”
In a testament to how much the church has impacted his life, Randy Leifeste said, “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the church. That’s where my parents, Randolph Leifeste and Lillie Mae McKinney met.” Whether through blood, worship, or community, Trinity United Methodist Church has impacted Castell and Llano County tremendously and will be remembered with fondness and gratitude.
The church’s final service will be held on Sunday, July 21 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a lunch. People are encouraged to bring food. The church will be maintained for community use, including meetings, weddings and retreats.