H.R. No. 2062
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Members of the First United Methodist Church in
Troup marked a milestone in their history with the celebration of
the 100th anniversary of the dedication of their church building in
2014; and
WHEREAS, The Troup Methodist church traces its beginnings
back to 1873, when a small group of Methodists began holding
services beneath a large oak tree in the area; seven years later,
church trustees bought a parcel of land on East Calvert Street from
the Texas Land Company, and members soon erected a one-room
sanctuary on the property; and
WHEREAS, By 1912, the congregation had outgrown its modest
building and planned to construct a more accommodating place of
worship; the following year, the church received as a gift the deed
to several lots of land, and its members held numerous fund-raisers
and collected donations for a new building; the sanctuary was
completed in early 1914, and congregants held its dedication
service that Easter Sunday; and
WHEREAS, The new church was praised as one of the most
beautiful and modern in the area, and its spacious 500-seat
sanctuary was enlisted to host music and civic events as well as the
Texas Annual Conference for the United Methodist Church for several
years; and
WHEREAS, Over the ensuing decades, First United Methodist
underwent a multitude of other renovations, including the addition
of a fellowship hall and an education building; in 2013, the
congregation commemorated its 130th anniversary with the
dedication of a Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical
Commission and the Smith County Historical Society; and
WHEREAS, Numerous generations of area residents have looked
to First United Methodist Church-Troup for spiritual enrichment and
guidance, and its continued existence is a tribute to the
unwavering commitment of its members, both past and present; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
dedication of the First United Methodist Church building in Troup
and extend to its clergy and congregation sincere best wishes for
the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Hughes
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2062 was adopted by the House on May
21, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House