Our Growth Continued...

from the 2/6/2004 issue of Good Tidings

Land for Current [Belt Line] Location Purchased in 1954
Groundbreaking Held September 22, 1957

The first service in the new brick church building on the northeast corner of Greenville Avenue and Polk Street was held May 1925.  The debt on the new building was paid off in ten years and the church was dedicated in September 1934.  The Reverend Guy Jones, a former pastor, held the dedication service. The church had a membership of 173 members. 

In 1939 The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, The Methodist Episcopal Church and The Methodist Protestant Church merged to form the The Methodist Church.  Therefore, The First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Richardson became The First Methodist Church of Richardson. 

Music has a prominent place in the early history of the First Methodist Church. While the Reverend C. B. Garrett was pastor in 1941 a new baby-grand Chickering piano was donated to the church.  This was such a nice gift for the church; it replaced the Kimball upright piano purchased for the church in 1916.  An electric organ was purchased in 1951 and a junior choir was organized.  Mrs. T. E. Neale was the director and nine people were present at the first meeting on September 5, 1951. 

The First Methodist Church of Richardson continued to grow and by 1951 had outgrown the facilities again.  During the pastorate of The Reverend Jack Fielder, an educational unit was built.  Later Southern Methodist University obtained army barracks and they were added to serve as Sunday School rooms.  By 1953 the First Methodist Church continued to make progress in the work of the Lord and enjoyed the quiet existence of a small-town church with 388 members.

The city of Richardson began to expand rapidly and the vast change created a new challenge for The Methodist Church.  The city began to expand to the west side of the new expressway (known as Central Expressway).  Members of the church came together and in 1954 they purchased a new site, approximately one mile from its current location. The address of the new location was 534 West Belt Line Road, our current location. 

The membership of the church continued to grow to 476 members in 1955 and in 1956 the membership had grown to 556.  Services were held on the site of the new location in August 1956.  Groundbreaking services were held on September 22, 1957 for a new Fellowship Hall and education building containing 22 classrooms, church office, pastor’s study, kitchen and restrooms.  The Fellowship Hall would serve as a sanctuary until a larger one was built.

In 1957 The Reverend B. W. Middlebrooks was assigned to First Methodist Church. On September 20, 1957 the Church Conference approved two important items of business:  they approved the sale of the old church property for $25,000; and approved a $100,000 loan for the new building.