FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH - 1900 TERRELL, TEXAS |
In October, 1876, the Methodists of Terrell, Texas purchased the property on the southwest corner of Hattie and College streets and, th efollowing year, constructed a frame building for worship services. By 1900, they had outgrown this building and plans were made to construct a new sanctuary. The old frame building was moved into the street to make room and services were held there during construction. The extant structure, left, was the first brick church in Terrell when the first services were held there on Sunday, September 16, 1900. |
This was Flanders' first church of the new century and it marked the beginning of a new field of opportunity for him. A contemporary account of the building described its' architecture and "complete and elegant" and deemed the building the "banner church edifice" in the (Methodist) conference. The building cost was around $14,000 and was designed during Flanders' brief partnership with Sevrin C. Skielvig. Skielvig probably influenced the interior design of the sanctuary as it is unlike any other Flanders church. The exterior of the building was much more Victorian in appearence than is apparant in the photograph above (see page one of this chapter). Flanders used a quarter circle portico facing the corner of the property as the entry to the building. The portico terminated on both sides at the base of a tower where the doorways to the building are placed. A fanciful cupola rests on the peak of th emetal shingled roof. The interior is dominated by exposed round, steel posts and exposed trusses. |
An interesting effect can be seen in the dove-shaped openings in the braces between the piers and beams. It's likely that this was one of the contribution of S.C.Skielvig, Flanders' partner at the time this building was designed. |
State Senator Robert L. Warren was on the building committee and he later engaged JEF to design his home in Terrell. This house, also extant and on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1903. |
Flanders used his drawing of the First Methodist Episcopal Church South of Terrell in several of his advertisements. |
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