First United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church. . Methodists began meeting about four years after the founding of Irving. 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.