Stepping onto this hallowed ground offers a journey through time. Airline United Methodist Church stands as a testament to faith. It reflects community. Its story is deeply interwoven with the history of Houston itself.
Let’s step back. First Methodist Houston dates to 1839. Reverend Jesse Hord organized Houston’s first Methodist Church. The location was the Senate Chamber. It was the Capitol Building of the Republic at that time.
Imagine Colonel William Barrett Travis. A year before his heroic death at the Alamo, he wrote to the Methodist Church. He requested pastors for the new Republic of Texas. The Methodist Church responded. It assigned three missionaries.
By 1843, the Houston congregation included 36 white members. It also had 32 black members. The first Methodist church building in Houston was completed in 1844. It was also the first brick church in Texas.
In 1854, Reverend James Ferguson became pastor. He was the father of Jim Ferguson. Jim later became Governor of Texas. James was also the father-in-law of Miriam “Ma” Ferguson. She became Texas’ first woman Governor.
A storm in 1864 caused a wall of the original brick building to collapse. It happened minutes after Sunday services. The congregation met in the black members’ building. It was on a nearby lot. They also met at the Lutheran church. This continued until after the Civil War.
Yellow fever struck in 1867. It killed over 1,000 Houstonians. Among them was Reverend William Rees. He was the pastor.
A new church building opened on December 9, 1883. It was an English gothic brick church. It was named Shearn Memorial. The church property was at Travis and Texas Avenue. The Houston Chronicle is located there now.
A devastating hurricane hit Galveston in 1900. The church ministered to the survivors. It supported the rebuilding of Galveston and Houston. Shearn church itself suffered severe damage.
The automobile’s arrival in 1901 changed church ministries. The city began to spread out. In 1904, church members started Wesley House. It was a ministry in an impoverished area. It grew into a city-wide ministry. It is now known as Wesley Community Center. Many churches support it now. It ministers to over 50,000 people in need each year.
The church sold its property in 1907. It was at Travis and Texas. The congregation met in Alabambra Hall. It also met in Beach’s Auditorium. In 1910, two corner lots were purchased. They were at Main and Clay. It is the present downtown location. One trustee resigned. He thought the property was “too far out of town.”
Printed bulletins were first used in worship in 1908. In 1909, the church changed its name. It went from Charles Shearn Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church to First Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Construction finished on the new downtown sanctuary in 1910. The first service was on December 18, 1910. Membership totaled 1,200. Members of the church helped start Methodist Hospital in 1919. They have been deeply involved in its leadership and growth since.
The Blue Bird Circle organized in 1923. It focused on social service work. It volunteered in the Crippled Children’s Ward at Methodist Hospital. This service became a separate charitable entity. It focused on volunteer work at Methodist Hospital.
The church had its first live worship broadcast on radio in 1924. Construction started on the seven-story educational building in 1928. It was designed to be turned into an office building. The music ministry for children and adults began in 1930. It became a highlight of worship services and special events.
The first edition of the First Methodist Houston Times was published in 1931. Following the unification of Methodism’s three branches in 1939, the church became First Methodist Church. First Methodist expanded to two Sunday services in 1940.
The church rejoiced at the return of service personnel from WWII in 1945. It also celebrated the removal of its 16-year debt. The debt resulted from building the Education Building. It included struggles during the Depression.
The sanctuary was remodeled to accommodate air conditioning in 1951. In 1956, the church broadcast its worship on television for the first time. Today, its Sunday morning televised worship is the longest-running television program in the nation. Its viewing audience is over 60,000 homes each week. It now includes live streaming.
Airline United Methodist Church stands as a beacon of hope. It is a testament to the enduring power of community. Its history is a reminder. It is about faith that can shape a city and inspire generations.