Centennial Marker Dedication

August 27, 2006

The Ceremonial Program

The program started with a few words of welcome by Charles Brown followed by an opening prayer by Rev. David Turner, lead pastor of First United Methodist Church, Irving.

The keynote speakers and officials were introduced by Charles Brown. He then gave a brief history of our church.

Former Irving Mayor Joe Putnum performed the dedicatory ceremony placing the historical marker in the official roles of Irving Centennial Markers. Participating in the unveiling of the marker were Charles Brown, Rev. David Turner, Louise Spann, Mary Kathryn Clyatt, Joe Putnam and Jan Hart. Mayor Herbert A. Gears was unable to attend.

The Marker

The following is the inscribed text of the dedication marker.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Methodists began meeting about four years after the founding of Irving in 1908, congregating in the schoolhouse. They were led variously by laymen and a local retired minister, Brother T.L. Combo. After a revival in August 1908 led by Rev. M.H. Read of Grand Prairie a dozen or so charter members organized the Methodist Episcopal Church. A.J. Clark donated a lot at the northeast corner of Third and Ohio Streets in September 1909, and the congregation first met in the nearly finished sanctuary in November, 1909.

The membership outgrew the small church in 1937. Under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Sterck, they replaced the frame building with a sandstone structure. The new building served as the sanctuary for 65 years. With a 1952 expansion under Rev. J.W. Lindsey the church acquired adjoining land and built additional facilities including offices, Sunday school rooms, a fellowship hall, and a Family Life Center. The denomination became the Methodist Church in 1939 and United Methodist Church in 1968.

In 2002, the congregation and Rev. Rusty Hedges consecrated a new sanctuary to the north of the existing facilities. The 1937 building is now the chapel.

Donors

Those individuals and groups responsible for making the marker a reality are listed below.