Simpson United Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Simpson United Methodist Church, out in Travis County. Now settle in, because this story starts small, the way the best ones always do. A Sunday School class.

Just a Sunday School class, meeting somewhere in the far eastern section of Austin, led by three people whose names deserve to be said out loud: Annas Brown, Richard Dukes, and Mrs. Vina Harris Forehand. All three were members of Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, and they saw a need in their corner of the city and decided to do something about it.

That's where every great congregation begins, really. Not with a building. With people who show up.

Come December of 1880, that little gathering organized itself formally, taking the name Simpson Mission Methodist Episcopal Church. And that name was no accident. It was chosen to honor a man called Bishop Matthew Simpson, who died in 1884, a pioneer Methodist leader described on the marker as an active political negotiator, an abolitionist, and a noted orator.

The kind of man whose name a community wants attached to its church. Early on, the congregation held worship services in a community schoolhouse. No grand sanctuary yet, just a room and a purpose.

But by May of 1881, they had built a frame sanctuary, standing at the corner of Concho and Gregory Streets, and that building served them faithfully until 1922, when the congregation moved to this site. New facilities were added here over time to keep pace with the church's continued growth. Since 1970, the fellowship has gone by the name Simpson United Methodist Church.

More than a century of mission work, service projects, and revivals. More than a century of community pride. The marker notes that pastors and members here have included many prominent Methodist leaders, and that this congregation has played a significant role in the development of Austin's black community.

That Sunday School class in the far eastern section of Austin. Look what it grew into.

What the marker says

This congregation grew from an early Sunday School class directed by Annas Brown, Richard Dukes and Mrs. Vina Harris Forehand, members of Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, for residents of the far eastern section of Austin. In December 1880, the group organized as the Simpson Mission Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregational name was chosen to honor Bishop Matthew Simpson (d. 1884), a pioneer Methodist leader who was also an active political negotiator, an abolitionist and a noted orator. Worship services were first held in a community schoolhouse. A frame sanctuary, constructed at the corner of Concho and Gregory Streets in May 1881, was used until the congregation moved to this site in 1922. New facilities were later added here to accommodate the church's continued growth. Known as Simpson United Methodist Church since 1970, this fellowship has played a significant role in the development of Austin's black community for over a century. Church programs, including mission work, service projects and revivals, have reflected the congregation's strong sense of community pride and involvement, pastors and members here have included many prominent Methodist leaders. (1982)