This Week in Texas Methodist History April 11, 

 

 

 

Dallas City Improvements Spark Debate:   Small Neighborhood Churches or Large Central Churches?

 April 1946

 

One of the main factors of 20^th century Texas history was the increasing urbanization and suburbanization.   There had been planned “street car suburbs”  in the late 19^th century such as the Houston Heights, but the 20^th century saw continual expansion.  Two periods were especially important in determining population patterns.  The first was the early 20^th century and the rise of petroleum related industries that created vast employment opportunities around the new industrial sites.  The other was the post World War II boom.  For point of reference, the U. S. Census reported that the U. S. population became 50%+ urban in the census of 1920, but Texas achieved that same degree of urbanization in the 1940 census.

 

Methodism in the 19^th century was a system of circuits of small rural churches with a “station” church in the towns—especially the county seats.  The first “second” churches in Texas towns were often built in neighborhoods with concentrations of railroad employees, such as Houston, Marshall, Paris, Palestine, Tyler, and so on. 

 

The post World War II boom in urbanization/suburbanization sparked a debate about the future of church expansion.   The era experienced a baby boom, and many parents wanted to raise their children in a church so church attendance soared.  Should the church build small neighborhood churches or large central churches?  

 

The question became important to the congregation worshiping at the corner of Haskell Ave. and Cabell Street, led by Rev. Sam Black.  The city of Dallas announced that due to a street widening project, the building, built in 1903, would have to be moved.   Should the congregation relocate to a larger property or accept the loss of some of its real estate and stay small? 

 

Congregational meetings were conducted to discuss and debate the issue.  On the one hand, a large church could offer more and more varied programs.  On the other, a small church could offer important work to all the laity.  The neighborhood church faction suggested a church of no more than 750 members.   

 

The debate on Haskell Ave. was repeated throughout the growing cities of Texas---neighborhood church or central large church?   Events overtook the debate.  There was room for both models.  The population of the cities and suburbs grew even faster than anyone thought possible. 

 

 

You may be interested in the site now.  Go to Google Earth.  Access Haskell at Cabell.  Click on street view and see the abandoned building obscured by overgrown shrubbery.