History of University Park United Methodist Church

From its earliest days to the present, University Park United Methodist Church has been blessed with faithful members and visionary thinkers who answer God’s call with courage, grace and conviction.

Our church was formed in response to a 1938 study that concluded the Park Cities was one of the nation’s areas most underserved by churches.  On Sunday, November 12, 1939, 43 Methodists gathered for the church’s first worship service in the Highland Park High School auditorium, which served as the sanctuary until October 1942.

World War II changed the plans but not the conviction of this fledgling congregation: instead of pursuing a two-story building as planned, a one-story, all-purpose structure served a rapidly-expanding congregation for seven years.

In October 1949, new structures were added to accommodate administrative needs.  Our current sanctuary soon followed, opening in March 1950.

Once again responding to community needs, an education building was built.  When it opened December 11, 1955, the new education building was recognized as one of the Southwest’s most practical and functional religious educational facilities for children and youth – a reputation it continues to build on.

In the late 1950s, eight of the 10 houses in the 4000 block of Colgate Avenue were purchased to house clergy and with a view to possible future expansion.  (The remaining two houses were purchased in 2004.)

A 20-year dream to connect the sanctuary, fellowship hall and the education building took shape in 1975, and it was during this decade of improvement that the church commissioned the building of the pipe organ – the first French-built organ in the U.S.  Today, the church’s music ministry is regarded as one of the finest in the country.

The 1980s were marked by the development of a school of discipleship to honor Dr. Allen Lamar Cooper, longtime Professor of Christian Social Ethics and Methodist Studies at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology and the Resident Scholar for University Park UMC for more than 20 years.

Today, The Cooper School of Discipleship offers popular courses ranging from Biblical history and lessons to raising children in today’s world.

University Park United Methodist Church has been shaped by a guiding principle of bringing faith to life in all that we do and in all whom we serve.