North Richland Hills in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Smithfield Methodist Church

Photographed by James Hulse, January 1, 2025

1. Smithfield Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. William and Mary Turner moved from Dallas County to a 300-acre farm near here in 1856. According to local tradition William soon built split log benches at his home for his neighbors use as a site for study and worship. By year's end they had formed a Methodist society called the Willow Springs Class. By 1861 the Rev. S.D. Sansom was serving as local elder.

The community took the name Zion about 1873 and the church changed its name to Zion Methodist Church. In 1887, after Eli Smith and J.C. Brownfield gave land for a townsite named Smithfield, the church became Smithfield Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

The congregation's first sanctuary, erected on land donated by Eli and Sally Smith in 1912, was replaced in 1935 with a structure built of masonry donated by descendants of William and Mary Turner. The congregation changed its name to Smithfield Methodist Church in 1939 and achieved sufficient membership by 1945 to retain its first full-time minister.

The congregation, renamed Smithfield United Methodist Church in 1968, erected a new sanctuary here in 1974. The church continues to offer worship and outreach programs to the community and remains an important institution in northeast Tarrant County.

2nd Plaque
Official Texas Marker Supported by Memorials Honoring Our Members: June Borden, A.C. Lewis, Sr., Lyndahl Shivers, Velma Kidwell and Flora Cobb.

Erected 1993 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4969.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 32° 52.113′ N, 97° 12.739′ W. Marker is in North Richland Hills, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is at the intersection of Smithfield Road and Chapman Drive, on the left when traveling north on Smithfield Road. The marker is

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located onthe east side of the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6701 Smithfield Rd, North Richland Hills TX 76182, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Eli Smith (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Alfred Madison Hightower (about 400 feet away); Smithfield Church of Christ (about 500 feet away); Smithfield Baptist Church (about 700 feet away); Veterans and First Responders Memorial flag pole (about 700 feet away); Smithfield Cemetery (about 700 feet away); Smithfield Masonic Lodge No. 455 A.F. & A.M. (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cobbs Barber Shop (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by James Hulse, January 1, 2025

2. Smithfield Methodist Church Marker

of all markers in North Richland Hills.

The Smithfield Methodist Church and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, January 1, 2025

3. The Smithfield Methodist Church and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 4, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.