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First United Methodist Church of
Arlington
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Located at 313 W. Center St., Arlington.
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This congregation was established soon after the Texas
and Pacific Railroad line was laid through Arlington.
In 1877 the Rev. J.T. L. Annis was appointed pastor of
the Arlington circuit, which served several area
communities, including Arlington. Some of the
fellowship's early worship services were held at
Schultz's Lumber Yard on Front Street. By 1900,
however, a small frame church building had been
erected at this site, and Sunday schools, mission
activities, and a women's division had been organized.
Church membership continued to grow over the years,
and facilities were added and expanded to meet the
need. Known as Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, until 1948, the congregation then was called
First Methodist Church of Arlington until 1968, when
the current name was adopted. First United Methodist
Church of Arlington historically has been a strong
supporter of youth programs, the business and
professional communities, the elderly, and education.
Numerous Arlington schools have been named for members
of this congregation who have provided significant
service to community education. (1984)
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Greater Saint James Baptist Church
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Located at 210 Harding St., Fort Worth.
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Founded in 1895 by the Rev. J. Francis Robinson and
members of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, St. James
Baptist Church, first met in the local Y.M.C.A.
building. Construction of this building began in 1913,
and services were held in the basement until the
sanctuary was completed in 1918. The red brick
building, featuring elements of the Gothic Revival
style, is simply detailed with shallow brick reliefs
and patters, cast stone, and art glass windows.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1986.
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Handley United Methodist Church
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Located at 2924 Handley Dr., Fort Worth.
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This congregation was organized in 1877, shortly after
the railroad town of Handley was established. The Rev.
J.J. Cannafax, who was the first minister, also served
as the town's first school teacher. Services were held
in the one room schoolhouse until a Union Church was
built in 1882. The Methodist congregation shared the
building with Baptists, Presbyterians, and other
denominations until 1907. The bell at this site is
from the Old Union Church. Although Handley now is a
part of Fort Worth, the Handley United Methodist
Church maintains a rich heritage and tradition of
service. (1985)
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Hemphill Presbyterian Church
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Located at 1701 Hemphill St., Fort Worth.
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This Neo-Classical auditorium was built in 1925 to
serve the increasing membership of Hemphill
Presbyterian Church. Dedicated the following year, the
building features a brick parapet and a bay window on
the north corner. The imposing entrance consists of
three open oval brick arches flanked by large
pilasters. The neighborhood landmark continues to
serve a large congregation. Recorded Texas Historic
Landmark - 1984.
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Isham Chapel Methodist Church
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Located at 530 Elm St., Hurst.
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Named for its founding Minister, the Rev. Marion Isham
(1831-1904), this congregation was organized in the
1870s with eleven charter members. In 1876 B.H. Ross
donated land (2 Mi. S) for a church and school, and a
small frame church building soon was erected. A
community school met in Isham Chapel until 1891. Over
the years the church membership increased steadily,
and in 1952 the congregation relocated to the rapidly
growing community of Hurst. Now known as First United
Methodist Church of Hurst, the fellowship has
worshiped at this site since 1964. (1983)
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Keller Methodist Church
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Located at 1025 Johnson Road, Keller.
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From 1886, the Christian denominations of Keller and
other areas shared their facilities. Pastor W. K.
Simpson served the area when the Keller Methodist
Church was organized in 1897. In 1913 the church
erected its own building; by 1946, the Rev. R. V. Holt
was serving a full-time station with a membership of
136. The congregation acquired new buildings as
needed. Renamed the First United Methodist Church of
Keller in 1968, the members have brought such programs
to the community as Christian Community Storehouse and
the Building Blocks Preschool. (1997)
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Mansfield Methodist Church
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Located at 601 Pleasant Ridge Road, Mansfield.
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This congregation was established in Mansfield in 1885
by 14 charter families who had migrated to Texas from
other part of the U.S. worship services were held in
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church until a one-room
frame building was constructed on North First Street
in 1890. The Mansfield church was named as head of
circuit for the Methodist Church and the Rev. E.D.L.
Tims was appointed as minister. The Mansfield
congregation also built a large tabernacle in 1891 and
shared it with other churches in town for summer
revival meetings. A storm destroyed the one-room
sanctuary in 1903. A larger edifice was built in 1904,
and featured arched stained glass windows and a bell
tower, and served the congregation until it burned in
1942. A brick church structure was completed in 1945,
largely by community labor. Later, five acres were
purchased on Pleasant Ridge and a larger facility was
built and dedicated in 1981 to house the growing
membership. The church has supported community service
programs including boy scouts, outreach for those in
need, missionary ministries, and Christian day care
facilities. The first Methodist Church of Mansfield
continues to serve the area as it has for more than
110 years. (1996)
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Meadowbrook Methodist Church
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Located at 3900 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth.
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This congregation traces its original to the
establishment in 1911 of the Sycamore Heights
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Sagamore
Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, South. These two
small mission congregations, initially led by theology
student Alonzo Monk, Jr., were located in the
Meadowbrook section of the former Polytechnic
Community of eastern Fort Worth. Having outgrown their
respective facilities by 1925, the two churches,
located within the same residential district, merged
in 1928 to form the Meadowbrook Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. That year, 475 charter members held
their first church services in a newly built two-story
frame sanctuary located in the 3900 block of
Meadowbrook Drive. The Rev. Jesse Herman Baldridge was
the congregation's First Pastor. In 1939 the
Meadowbrook Methodist Episcopal Church, South, became
the Meadowbrook Methodist Episcopal Church. The frame
building was converted to a sunday school and a new
Gothic-style stone sanctuary was completed in 1949.
Subsequent building programs over the next two decade
resulted in the improvement of classroom facilities
and the construction of a fellowship hall. Meadowbrook
United Methodist Church continues to serve the
community with a variety of programs. (1993)
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Minters Chapel Methodist Church
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Located at 4344 Cheek-Sparger Road, Grapevine.
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Four pioneer area families established this
congregation about 1854. Early services were conducted
in a log cabin on land donated by James Cate for the
church, a school and a cemetery. The congregational
name was chosen in honor of the Rev. Green Washington
Minter (1803-87), who was instrumental in the founding
and early growth of the fellowship. Despite hardships,
the church became a focal point of the community it
served. It was moved here in 1967 when the original
location was included within boundaries of the
Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport. (1982)
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Mount Gilead Baptist Church
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Located at the southwest corner of Bancroft and
Ottinger Roads, Keller.
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The earliest religious meetings here began in the late
1840s as part of Lonesome Dove Baptist Church. The Mt.
Gilead Congregation was chartered in 1850 under the
direction of the Rev. John Allen Freeman (1821-1919)
with 8 members, including 2 slaves. It was the first
church started after the formation of Tarrant County
in 1849. Early services were held in homes and in a
log schoolhouse at this site on land owned by Daniel
Barcroft (1812-81). Except for a time in the late
1870s and early 1880s when meetings were held
elsewhere, the church has worshiped at this site.
(1981)
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Mount Olive Baptist Church
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Located at 301 W. Sanford St., Arlington.
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A small group of African American Tarrant County
residents, led by the Rev. Mr. Squires, organized
Mount Olive Baptist Church in the summer of 1897.
Originally located on Indiana Street, the church moved
to a new white brick sanctuary at 415 N. West Street
in 1966, when the city of Arlington experienced a
period of growth. The church had sixteen members in
1966, but soon the membership rolls began to increase.
By 1976, when the church was formally incorporated, it
had more than 400 members. Groundbreaking for a new
church building took place on October 31, 1976, and by
June 1978 the members were worshiping in a new
facility. A steady increase in membership led to the
building of additional facilities to house the
extended ministries and programs of the church. By
1986, membership totaled 3,500. The church moved to
new facilities on Sanford Street in 1989, and
membership grew to 10,000 by 1997. In addition to its
long history of providing worship and educational
programs for its members, Mount Olive Baptist Church
has maintained an innovative and active outreach
program in the community. Celebrating a century of
service in 1997, the church continues to uphold the
values and traditions of its founders. (1997)
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Mount Zion Baptist Church
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Located at 1101 Evans St., Fort Worth.
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On Dec. 25, 1894, State Evangelist the Rev. Frank
Tribune organized this Baptist church with five
members: Ella and Lee Brooks, Katie Patterson, Laura
Purvis, and Josephine Wells. With help from the Rev.
Dr. A.R. Griggs, the members built a frame structure
in 1907 at the corner of Louisiana and Rosedale. In
1915 the present site was acquired and a tabernacle
erected. This brick church building was begun in 1919
under the Rev. M.K. Curry. The church debt was paid
during the Rev. A.W. Pryor's pastorate, 1924-1949.
While the Rev. S.T. Alexander was Pastor, 1949-1968,
an education building was added. (1978)
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New Hope Baptist Church
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Located at 6765 Dick Price Rd., Mansfield.
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The Rev. D. F. Smith and fourteen charter members
organized New Hope Baptist Church before 1886, when
the congregation joined the Tarrant Baptist
Association. In its early years, the congregation met
once a month in the New Hope school building. J. J.
Williams, the son of a charter members, gave land for
a church building in 1903. It was dedicated in 1905.
Services were held twice each month beginning in 1917.
Full-time services were begun in 1942 and a new
auditorium was erected in 1948, heralding a time of
prosperity for the church. The congregation built a
new sanctuary in 1972 to serve its growing membership.
The church remains active in the traditions of its
founders with programs of worship and service to its
members and the larger community. (2000)
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Site of Oak Grove Methodist Church
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Located at 1225 Oak Grove Lane, Bedford.
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Named for its wooded site at the time of its founding
in early 1886, Oak Grove Methodist Church was
organized with 30 members and was one of five churches
on the Keller Circuit. A building acquired from
another church was moved onto the property in 1887.
Members built a brush arbor for summer meetings and
revivals, which were attended by community members of
all faiths. Some Oak Grove members formed Colleyville
Methodist Church in 1924. Most Colleyville members
continued to attend Oak Grove services for many years.
In 1925 the early house of worship was replaced. Oak
Grove had 99 members in 1935. As population centers
changed, Oak Grove's membership declined. By 1949 the
church had only twelve members, and it was dissolved
early that year. Its last building was moved to
Colleyville and used by that congregation from 1950 to
1961. (2000)
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Pleasant Glade Baptist Church
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Located at 3708 Glade Road, Colleyville.
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Pleasant Glade Baptist Church, also known as Pleasant
Glade Missionary Baptist Church, was organized
September 19, 1923, in the historic Pleasant Glade
community. The fourteen charter members were all
formerly of Pleasant Run Baptist Church (organized in
1877). Several other members joined that day, and the
newly ordained Reverend O. M. Heflin later became
first pastor. The congregation purchased an existing
frame church building at Cottonwood, northeast of
Grapevine, and relocated it to this site. Their first
revival meeting was held on September 24, 1924, and
inspired thirty people to join the church. During the
Depression era, the congregation persevered and
continued to grow. As a rural farming community, they
were better able to cope with the difficult financial
times than their city cousins. By the end of World War
II, the church was prosperous enough to build a
parsonage, completed in 1947. Improvements to the
church building and additions to the land were made in
the late 1940s and early 1950s and continued as needed
thereafter. The congregation was renamed First Baptist
Church of Pleasant Glade on July 4, 1956. A few days
later they began a mission church in the nearby town
of Hurst. The mission flourished and became Bellevue
Baptist Church within a year. A modern church facility
was completed in 1963. The Pleasant Glade Baptist
Church continues in the traditions of its founders.
Its programs include youth and community outreach,
men's and women's groups, and missionary support. The
church continues to serve northeastern Tarrant County.
(2000)
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Pleasant Run Baptist Church
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Located at 6005 Pleasant Run Road, Colleyville.
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The Baptist Church of Christ of Pleasant Run was
organized on April 7, 1877, by a presbytery consisting
of J.Q. Barnett, L.H. Foster, A.J. Hallford and M.J.
Mills. The congregation met at first in the one-room
Grange Hall or Lodge in what became known as
Bransford. Later, they moved to Pleasant Run School,
located a short distance south of the present church
building. In 1904 W.H. Throop and Dave Vickers gave on
acre of land for a church house. Later, Sunday School
rooms, an educational facility and a sanctuary were
added.
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Riverside Methodist Church
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Located at 3419 E. Belkap, Fort Worth.
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According to local oral tradition, Riverside Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, began in March 1888, when the
Rev. C.F. Vance and ten people held Sunday School in
an abandoned saloon at E. First and Sylvania Streets.
After organizing a congregation,the members bought
land at the corner of E. First and Ross Avenue (now
Retta) in 1893 and built a frame sanctuary. In its
early years, the congregation was served by visiting
ministers and by students at Polytechnic College (now
Texas Wesleyan University). The church building was
moved to the southeast corner of Noble Street and Frey
Avenue (now Riverside Drive) in 1907. It continued in
use until 1925, when it was replaced by a basement for
a new structure. The name of the church was changed in
1924 to Sylvania Heights Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, but in 1935 in reverted to its original name
when Frey Avenue was renamed Riverside Drive. A
sanctuary was completed over the 1925 basement in
1937, and a new facility was built on adjacent lots in
1951. Highway construction and changing neighborhood
dynamics led to the Church's relocation to this site
in 1982. After a denominational name change in 1968,
it became known as Riverside United Methodist Church.
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Saint John Missionary Baptist Church
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Located at 3324 House Anderson Rd., Euless.
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In 1874 a small group of former slaves met at the the
home of Frank Young and organized this congregation,
which originally was named Oak Grove Baptist Church.
During the late 19th-century pastorate of the Rev. Jim
Carroll, the name was changed to St. John, and a
two-story church and Masonic lodge building was
constructed near this site on land donated by
Tennessee Blackburn. The congregation built its own
sanctuary here in 1911. Throughout its history, St.
John Missionary Baptist Church has been a source of
service and leadership for the Mosier Valley
Community.
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Saint John's Evangelical and Reform
Church
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Located at 908 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Worth.
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A United Church of Christ, this congregation was
chartered October 1882 under the direction of the Rev.
F. Werning, a pioneer missionary from Waco. It grew
from early worship services in the home of Mr. and
Mrs. H. Raab, conducted for twelve families of German
descent. The Church's original sanctuary was built on
Calhoun Street, but was moved to the corner of Texas
and Taylor streets before being relocated here in
1915. For over a century St. John's Evangelical and
Reformed Church has played in an important role in the
area's development.
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Saint Mark United Methodist Church
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Located at 1200 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth.
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This congregation was formed in 1940 by the merger of
several historic Fort Worth Methodist Churches. The
Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in
1883 with twenty charter members under the leadership
of the Rev. P.S. Juhline. Use of the Swedish language
during worship services continued until 1920. In 1924
the name of the congregation was changed to Broadway
Methodist Episcopal Church. Six years later, St. Paul
Methodist Episcopal Church merged with the Broadway
Congregation. St. Paul's had been organized in 1877
with thirty charter members under the leadership of
the Rev. Harvey Webb. Mulkey Memorial Methodist
Episcopal Church began in the late 1880s as a mission
of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Fort Worth.
The church was named for the Rev. and Mrs. William
Mulkey, parents of George Mulkey, who was a charter
member of the new church. The Rev. John M. Barcus
served as first pastor. At the 1940 Annual Conference
these historic congregations merged to become the
Broadway-Mulkey Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The
name St. Mark was adopted in 1945. The congregation
has worshiped at this site since 1960. [Now renamed
Christ-Life Church]
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