History

Rev. Ferdinand O. Miller and 6 Christians organized a Methodist Church in the home of Alfred Harris, which would later become FUMCWF. The six members listed in the original membership roll were Alfred H. Harris, Mary E. Harris, Mary Charlotte Harris, Tom J. Williams, Edna Williams, and Mary M. Williams. It was the first church of any denomination in Wichita Falls and the first Methodist Church in Wichita County.

After several years of meeting in homes, a log schoolhouse, and the courthouse, our first church building was built, a $300 one-room log structure at the corner of Tenth and Scott Streets. This was our church home from 1885-1910.

Our second church building was completed at a cost of $36,700 at the corner of Tenth and Lamar, the site of our present day post office. This was our place of worship from 1910-1928.

In August of 1926, construction began on the third church building, on the corner of Tenth and Travis. On November 7, 1926, Bishop Sam R. Hay laid the cornerstone, which included a Holy Bible, a Methodist Discipline, and a membership list of the congregation. On September 23, 1928, the present Sanctuary was consecrated and the first worship service was held there.

Air conditioning was installed in the Sanctuary for $18,000. It was the first AC unit in Wichita Falls and was believed to be the largest in any church in North America.

During the pastorate of Paul E. Martin (1938-1944), many of our special events had their beginnings. The Perkins Lectures, established in 1943, were his idea. Dr. Roy Smith gave the first lecture.

Research indicates that this is the first lecture series of its kind nationwide, established in a local church.

Construction of the Perkins Chapel finished in 1951. Given by Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Perkins, the chapel was built to offer a haven for meditation, as well as provide a place for weddings, private christenings, worship, and other special services. The lectern, altar, canopy, pews, and chancel rails are all hand-carved oak.

In 1953, the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts, began to rebuild the Reuter organ, utilizing some of the old Reuter main windchests, the old Reuter pedal stops and offset chests, and some of the old pipes. It was designed by G. Donald Harrison, president of Aeolian-Skinner, and installed by T. J. and Jimmy Williams of New Orleans. Roy Perry of Kilgore, Texas, representative of Aeolian-Skinner, installed the new console. This renovation was completed in 1954.

The School for Little People, a play-based preschool, opened in 1965 and is still running today. It began with one teacher and 11 children. Classes met for two days a week and the price was $2.00 a month. Since its beginning in 1965, their purpose has been to aid self-discovery by allowing and encouraging children to explore and experience their environment.

On September 24, 1978, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sanctuary followed by the dedication of the Paul E. Martin Narthex on September 28. The Narthex is an antechamber at the entrance of a church, acting as a transitional space between the outside world and the main worship area.

A devastating tornado hit Wichita Falls on Tuesday, April 10, 1979. Disaster aid to our members from the church included a small monetary gift to those needing it. The following Sunday was Easter, and a union service was held in our Sanctuary. Between 1000 and 1200 people attended each of two worship services. To aid people hurt by the tornado, Pastor Weaver then organized Interfaith Disaster Services, which later became Interfaith Ministries.

Moving to join the modern technological age, in April of 1998, the church began posting our own web site, FUMCWF.org, on the Internet and made it possible for the church and its members to communicate through electronic mail.

In 1997, a capital campaign entitled “Building for Tomorrow – Taking Care of Today” was launched to update church facilities. During this renovation project, completed in March of 1999, we enclosed the courtyard to form the Prothro Family Atrium. We also redid the Sanctuary and added new classrooms, two elevators, and a television studio. This new TV Studio was soon put to good use. We began to televise our Sunday worship service in April 1999.

In June of 2002, a major organ renovation began, the largest organ project since 1954. Dan Garland Pipe Organ Company of Fort Worth worked on the overall project. A new 4-manual organ console was built by Robert Turner of California. Dr. George Baker of Dallas was our organ consultant. The new organ was completed in September of 2003.

The “Making a Place for God’s Promise” Capital Campaign spearheaded by Rev. Paul Goodrich led to renovations to the First Rock youth building and the parking lot.

Our “Standing Together” Capital Campaign made it possible to complete $4.5 million in repairs and renovations to our church’s facilities. We updated the HVAC system, upgraded our television ministry, renovated the kitchen, and remodeled parts of our building to improve hospitality and security.

In 2021, FUMC began hosting a summer reading program, Reading with Friends. It was a four-week summer reading program for students first through fifth grade that aims to build self-confidence and self-awareness through one-on-one literacy engagement, creative art, and recreational play and exercise. It was modeled after Project Transformation, and they eventually applied to become a PT site.

On August 27, 2023, there was a dedication for our new Children’s Library located in the Rec Lobby, filled entirely with books donated by the congregation. Although it is used throughout the year, the space is especially beneficial during the church’s summer reading program, Project Transformation.

Project Transformation (PT) operates free eight-week summer literacy programs serving children in neighborhoods throughout North Texas. Each day, children read one-on-one with community volunteers and participate in activity-based literacy intervention. Children also participate in daily enrichment activities including recreational play and exercise, creative arts, and interaction with young adults and community volunteers, who inspire and encourage youth daily to make responsible, sound decisions.