University United Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Back in 1912, a small Sunday group started meetin' in a rental house on Hemphill Street in Fort Worth. Nothing fancy.

Just folks gathering under the guidance of Reverend Alonzo Monk, Jr., calling themselves the Hemphill Heights Methodist Mission. Small beginnings, sure. But something was taking root.

The congregation grew, and grew rapidly. By 1919, they'd outgrown what they had and moved their worship into George Clark Elementary School, buying time while a proper new building went up on Hemphill Street. That building was completed in 1923.

Now, you'd think that'd be the happy ending. You'd be wrong. In 1934, the building was condemned.

Foundation problems. After more than a decade in that structure, it was gone, just like that. So here is this congregation, no building, no air conditioning, no heat, and a decision to make.

They made it. They moved into a warehouse and kept worshiping. Let that sit with you a moment.

A warehouse. No air. No heat.

But the congregation held together. In 1935, they secured the site at the corner of Berry Street and McCart Avenue, the very location they stand on today. Then came two years of raisin' money, patiently, faithfully.

And on January 27, 1937, they held their first service in the new church, going in under the name Matthews Memorial Methodist Church. That name carried the congregation for decades, all the way to 1975, when they changed it to University United Methodist Church, to identify themselves more closely with Texas Christian University. The name changed, but the mission never did.

Through the United Methodist Committee on Relief, helping people pick up the pieces after catastrophe strikes, through youth and adult mission trips, through support of international projects and missionaries, and right there at home, offering transportation services and hands-on partnerships with local organizations to serve south central Fort Worth. What started as a small Sunday group in a rental house on Hemphill Street became something that reaches across the neighborhood, across the country, and across the world. That is one long way from a warehouse with no air and no heat.

And they never forgot where they came from.

What the marker says

In 1912, a small Sunday group under the guidance of Reverend Alonzo Monk, Jr. Began to meet in a rental house on Hemphill Street under the name Hemphill Heights Methodist Mission. The church grew rapidly and, in 1919, moved to George Clark Elementary School while a new building was built on Hemphill Street. The building was completed in 1923; however, in 1934, it was condemned due to foundation problems. With no building to worship in, the congregation decided to use a temporary location in a warehouse with no air or heat. In 1935, they secured the site at the present location on the corner of Berry St. and McCart Ave. And spent the next two years raising money for a new building. On January 27, 1937, the congregation held their first service in the new church as Matthews Memorial Methodist Church. The congregation changed its name to University United Methodist Church in 1975 to identify itself more closely with Texas Christian University. The church has demonstrated Christ's word through ministries such as the United Methodist Committee on relief, which helps those in need after a catastrophe strikes, youth and adult mission trips and through the support of international projects and missionaries. The congregation also provides local assistance to help those in south central Fort Worth through hands-on projects such as transportation services and partnerships with several local organizations. Today, University United Methodist Church continues its legacy as a source of outreach, hope and spiritual guidance in the community.