First United Methodist Church Alvord
Alvord, Wise County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Originally organized as the Methodist Episcopal Church, south, in 1884, First United Methodist Church has been serving Alvord for 130 years. In March 1884, construction began on the new church building with Rev. F.W. Morton serving as the first pastor. The 600-pound bell for the church arrived from the historic C.S. Bell Company of Hillsboro, Ohio. The original bell is still located at the corner of Wickham and Washington. A Methodist Sunday School was organized in October of 1884 and met on Sunday evenings at the church house. The original church house was a long building with a bell tower, facing east on Wickham Street with windows on the south and north sides. This building was the place of worship and Sunday School until the new sanctuary and pulpit was built in 1961 using some of the wood preserved from the original 1884 building. In 1922, the foster church, located north of Alvord, consolidated with the Alvord church. An additional building was needed with the transferring of members, and a white frame house was built on the lot adjoining the church. This house was used for Sunday School classes until the educational building was built. The educational building was dedicated in 1957 and has served the church for Sunday School, dinners, receptions, programs and recreation as well as senior citizen meals and homecomings. In 2008, a new fellowship hall was constructed and christened “Memorial Hall” upon completion. A significant part of the Alvord Church has been the women’s society which was organized in 1890 and is still active. The church was “built on belief” by the community and continues to grow and move forward in faith.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Organized in 1884 as the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, this Alvord congregation raised its first building that March under Rev. F.W. Morton and hung a 600-pound bell cast by the historic C.S. Bell Company of Ohio. A women's society formed in 1890 and remains active, while an 1884 Sunday school, a 1922 consolidation with the Foster church, and mid-century additions carried the congregation forward. The 1961 sanctuary even reused wood from the original 1884 building.
Why it matters
The church's long life, and the women's society at its heart, mirrors how faith communities sustained small Texas railroad towns across four generations.
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Related people
- · F.W. Morton
Themes & tags
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