Tyler Street United Methodist Church
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On November 27, 1911, the North Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, appointed the Rev. J. Leonard Rea (1884 - 1965) to establish a parish in Dallas to be known as Tyler Street Methodist Church. The congregation was organized on January 29, 1912, with 166 charter members. A sanctuary for the new church was built on the corner of Tyler and Sunset streets in July 1912. The Rev. Mr. Rea continued as minister, and the first report of the congregation to the denomination Annual Conference revealed a membership of 304. By 1921 the need for a new building had arisen. A site was acquired at Tenth and Polk streets, and the congregation moved into a partially completed building that year. Construction resumed in 1923 and a large sanctuary was completed in 1925. During the difficult period of the Great Depression the church building was closed by creditors. The congregation met in Sunset High School from March 1932 until they could return to their facilities in the fall of 1933. Since that time, the congregation has continued to grow, and additional buildings have been added to the property. Tyler Street United Methodist Church remains a vital part of the community.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in Dallas in 1912 with 166 charter members, Tyler Street Methodist began in a small sanctuary at Tyler and Sunset streets under its first minister, the Rev. J. Leonard Rea. As the congregation grew it built a large sanctuary at Tenth and Polk by 1925, only to see creditors close the building during the Great Depression — members worshipped in Sunset High School until they could return in 1933. The church weathered the hard years and continued to expand as a fixture of the Oak Cliff community.
Why it matters
Its Depression-era struggle and recovery mirror the experience of countless American congregations that lost and reclaimed their buildings during the nation's worst economic crisis.
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Related people
- · Rev. J. Leonard Rea
Related events
- · Great Depression
Themes & tags
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