DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First United Methodist Church of Arlington, up there in Tarrant County. Now settle in, because this one's got deep roots — the kind that grow quiet and steady and end up holding up a whole town. This congregation got its start soon after the Texas and Pacific Railroad line was laid through Arlington.
You lay rail through open country, and people follow. Community follows. And where community gathers, so does faith.
By 1877, the Rev. J.T.L. Annis had been appointed pastor of the Arlington circuit — a circuit, mind you, that didn't just serve Arlington but reached out to several area communities all at once.
One man, a lot of ground to cover. Now in those early days, before there was a proper church building to speak of, this fellowship held some of its worship services at Schultz's Lumber Yard on Front Street. That's right — between the planks and the sawdust and whatever else you store at a lumber yard, these folks gathered and prayed.
There is something wonderfully stubborn about that. They weren't waiting on perfect conditions. They were building toward them.
And build they did. By 1900, a small frame church building had been erected right here at this site. Sunday schools had been organized.
Mission activities were underway. A women's division had been formed. The bones of something lasting were already in place.
The congregation kept growing over the years, and facilities were added and expanded to meet the need — which is its own kind of quiet testament. You don't keep adding on unless people keep showing up. For most of its life this church carried the name Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, South — held that name all the way until 1948.
Then it became First Methodist Church of Arlington, and it answered to that name until 1968, when the congregation adopted the name it carries today: First United Methodist Church of Arlington. Three names across the decades, same enduring community. And what that community built went well beyond its own walls.
This church has historically been a strong supporter of youth programs, the business and professional communities, the elderly, and education. In fact, numerous Arlington schools have been named for members of this very congregation — people who provided significant service to community education. Think about that.
You're looking at a fellowship that didn't just shape Sunday mornings. It shaped the classrooms where Arlington's children learned to read. That's the kind of roots that hold.
What the marker says
This congregation was established soon after the Texas and Pacific Railroad line was laid through Arlington. In 1877 the Rev. J.T. L. Annis was appointed pastor of the Arlington circuit, which served several area communities, including Arlington. Some of the fellowship's early worship services were held at Schultz's Lumber Yard on Front Street. By 1900, however, a small frame church building had been erected at this site, and Sunday schools, mission activities, and a women's division had been organized. Church membership continued to grow over the years, and facilities were added and expanded to meet the need. Known as Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church, South, until 1948, the congregation then was called First Methodist Church of Arlington until 1968, when the current name was adopted. First United Methodist Church of Arlington historically has been a strong supporter of youth programs, the business and professional communities, the elderly, and education. Numerous Arlington schools have been named for members of this congregation who have provided significant service to community education. (1984)