History

1857-1872 Methodist Organize Earliest Congregation

The town of Denton became a reality in November 1856 after an election was held to determine a more central location for the county seat than Alton, the original county seat of Denton County. A plat was then drawn to map the individual lots, the sale of which funded the log courthouse built in 1857.
In that same year, the Reverend William E. Bates, a Methodist minister, organized the earliest congregation in Denton, making Methodism in Denton as old as the town itself. Services were initially held in the log Court House located on the north side of the square. A Masonic Lodge was constructed in 1859, becoming a multi-use building where school was held and the various church congregations met for worship services. The Methodist congregation met there until 1872

1872-1895 Early City Planning Favors Church Building Program

The congregation grew slowly along with the growth of the town of Denton. On the 30^th day of May 1871, the Police Court of Denton County ordered that Lots No. 1 and No. 6 in Block No. 23 in the Town of Denton be set apart for the purpose of erecting church houses. The Methodist congregation meet the challenge and built their meeting house on the south side of Lot 1 of Block 23.
In turn the Police Court, issued a Deed of Conveyance to the trustees of the Methodist congregation on January 3, 1873, for the land on which the Methodist congregation had erected the white, steepled church with the bell to call people to worship. This church building held about one hundred people.
Since the Methodist Church was considered a mission and on a large circuit from 1857 until 1885, preaching services were held about once a month. In 1885, the Denton Methodist Church became a station with a full-time minister assigned. The congregation soon outgrew the capacity of the white church building but hesitated to undertake a building program with its ensuing debt. They did, however, build a parsonage in 1895, which was later moved to 206 E. Sycamore, where it continues to stand.

1898-1925 Congregation Builds a Red Brick Church

The congregation addressed the need for a new building by inviting a famous evangelist of the time – Rev. Abe Mulkey – to hold a revival, during which $5,000 was raised to begin a building program. Construction began in 1898 on a new building made of red brick with a seating capacity of six hundred and was completed in 1899 for a cost of $10,000. The Red Brick Church, as it became known, housed a congregation of over six hundred by 1907, and the need for another building again became evident. It would be several more years before a new building became a reality.
Rev. J.W. Hill was assigned to serve the Methodist congregation in 1918. He appointed a committee of thirty men and women as a locating and building committee, but nothing was decided during his time as pastor. During the tenure of Rev. Sam Barcus, the congregation decided to tear down the red brick church and build another building in the same location. Plans included an education building in addition to a new sanctuary. The building committee determined to build the new plant on a “pay as you go plan,” which extended the construction of the sanctuary until 1925 and halted the plans for an education building. While the construction took place on the new facilities, the congregation met for worship services in a temporary building known as the Tabernacle. The Board of Stewards also halted plans for a pipe organ because of the other indebtedness. On member – Miss Bessie Shook – challenged them to proceed and pledged the first $100. An Estey pipe organ was added in 1928

1950 - Present Methodist Enlarge Facilities to Accommodate Growth

The college student population grew along with that of Denton. Because many of the students were Methodists and attended the church each Sunday, class meeting space was scarce. In 1941, a year after the indebtedness of the church had been eliminated and following the Rev. Philip Walker’s assignment to the local church, an education building fund was established. Members bought war bonds and pledged them to the church for construction of an education building, a student building, a chapel, and sanctuary renovations, all of which were completed in September 1951 for a cost of approximately $350,00. The congregation hand anticipated this growth and previously purchased Lot 6 next to Lot 1 of Block 23 for expansion.
In 1976, a special study commission of the Methodist congregation was set up to decide what to do about the deteriorating buildings and growing congregation. This commission decided that the Methodist Church congregation would remain in the same downtown location that it had been in since 1872, that the buildings would be renovated, and that the congregation would continue to serve God and the Denton community from that location. A multi-purpose building know as the Monroe Fellowship Building was constructed to provide a place for people of the neighborhood, as well as groups from the congregation, to participate in recreational and social activities.
The sanctuary was completely renovated in 1991. Stained glass windows replace the art glass windows. The first live telecast of the 10:45 am worship service was broadcast Christmas Eve 1997 on Cable Channel 25, and a new pipe organ was installed in 1998.