Detailed History of FUMCR:

Cherished Past,
Challenging Future

With a 163-foot steeple reaching into the sky — visible to thousands of people every day, First United Methodist Church Richardson opens its doors and its hearts to all those who need and seek the love, hope, joy and peace of Jesus Christ.

This is a time of celebration as the church looks forward to great opportunities to share its facilities, programs and messages with more people. This is a time of great thanksgiving and praise to God for His faithfulness and guidance. May all that is done here be
to glorify His name.

This era is a time of tribute to all the pioneers and visionaries who have given FUMCR a proud and cherished past. Today’s congregation is the beneficiary of their commitment to bring Christ, His Word and His Church into the community of Richardson, Texas.

In June 2006, the church will celebrate its 120th birthday! That is a lot of history!

	―1886―	A group of fifteen Methodists met to talk about starting a church. Having no building of their own, they accepted the offer from Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Richardson to share their facilities. They met the first Sunday of each month for twelve years. This was the beginning of First Methodist Episcopal Church South in Richardson.
	―1898―	Anxious for a building of their own, the women of the church made an autograph quilt consisting of 500 squares to be sold for 10 cents each. This project raised $50, enabling them to purchase an acre of land on the east side of Greenville between Polk and Main streets. The church was white frame with windows of colored glass. Membership was about 50 people.
	―1925―	Having outgrown the white frame church, the congregation agreed to build a new church on the same property. It was red brick and included a sanctuary. It was the first church in Richardson to have classrooms and a kitchen. Membership totaled 130. During the next 28 years, space was once again a problem. A decision was made to purchase a new site one mile west of the new Central Expressway.
	―1958―	The church held the first service at its new location at 534 Beltline Road. The first phase included a fellowship hall (which was used temporarily as the sanctuary) and an education building. Membership at that time was 653.
	―1964―	Rapid growth of both Richardson and First Methodist Church Richardson made it necessary to build the second phase. The cornerstones from the churches built in 1898 and 1924 were brought to the new facility. By 1968 membership had skyrocketed to 3,434. That was the year the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren. Since that time the church has been known as the First United Methodist Church Richardson.
	―1972―	During these years growth continued and the church added a Middlebrooks Hall, youth facilities, adult Sunday School classrooms, three small homes on Lockwood, a chapel and church offices.
	―1986―	A four-acre tract on Custer Road was bought to add more usable space for the Women’s Center. Church membership exceeded 6,000.
	―1999―	FUMCR realized for the first time that growth had flattened due to crowded classrooms and inadequate facilities, including parking.
	―2004―	On April 18. 2004, FUMCR held a ceremonial ground breaking. Construction began a few months later on phase one of the building plan. This phase included a sanctuary, education building, family life center, two playgrounds and additional parking. On September 9, 2005, the church held a steeple-raising ceremony. It was an exciting and spiritual experience to watch the steeple hoisted to the roof of the sanctuary. A Celtic cross, whose circle is the emblem of eternity, rests atop the steeple. The steeple and cross were blessed before being lifted to their permanent place. On October 2, 2005 members took a hard-hat tour of the new church. Even in the midst of the excitement, the church remembered its cherished past. The new building houses items that are a part of its history: the cornerstones and many gifts given in honor and memory of loved ones.
	―2006―	March 26 - what an historical moment for FUMCR as it continues to follow the plan God has for it. From its beginning in 1886, Richardson Methodists have had the vision and the faith to make a difference in the community and the world. Today, the congregation is strengthened by its past as it now steps into its challenging future.