For generations, Saint Matthew United Methodist Church has been a place where faith has been lived, shared, and passed on. Built on a legacy of worship, service, and deep connection, this church has been shaped by the faithful witness of those who came before us.
Our story stretches back more than a century. It did not begin with the construction of our sanctuary or even with the adoption of the Saint Matthew name. Instead, it is the story of a congregation that has faithfully followed God’s leading through changing neighborhoods, new homes, and new generations of believers.
Like all communities of faith, our journey has unfolded through seasons of growth, challenge, and renewal. Through it all, God’s presence has remained constant, guiding this church forward and preparing each generation for the one to come.
The buildings have changed. The neighborhoods have changed. Even the church’s name has changed. But through every season, God has faithfully led this congregation, and the mission of sharing the love of Christ has remained the same.
Today, we honor that legacy by remembering where we have been, giving thanks for those who came before us, and celebrating the faithfulness of God that continues to shape Saint Matthew’s story.
A Church Is Born
The story of Saint Matthew begins long before the congregation bore its present name.
In 1888, members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South organized Missouri Avenue Methodist Church to serve the growing neighborhoods of East Fort Worth. As the city expanded, so too did the congregation’s ministry. In time, that work gave rise to Glenwood Methodist Episcopal Church, South, reflecting the continued growth of the surrounding community and the Methodist commitment to planting new congregations where they were needed most.
As East Fort Worth continued to change during the first half of the twentieth century, the congregation entered another new chapter, becoming Ash Crescent Methodist Church. Though the church’s name and location evolved over the years, its purpose remained unchanged: to worship God, proclaim the Gospel, and serve its neighbors with the love of Christ.
The years that followed would eventually lead the congregation to a new home, a new name, and the church family known today as Saint Matthew United Methodist Church.
The Missouri Avenue Years (1888–1895)
Our story begins with Missouri Avenue Methodist, established in 1888 in Fort Worth. As that congregation grew, it found itself looking beyond its original space. After a fire destroyed its wooden building in 1895, the church rebuilt on its existing site, leaving behind two vacant lots on Bessie Street dedicated for worship. Those lots would soon become the foundation for a new congregation—and the beginning of our story.
The Glenwood Years (1896–1939)
From those Bessie Street lots, Glenwood Methodist Episcopal Church, South was formed, beginning with fewer than ten members. Under the leadership of Rev. S. A. Barnes, the congregation quickly grew into a vibrant and thriving community.
In its early days, Glenwood worshiped in a modest Victorian building, complete with hitching posts and a gas light out front. Over time, the congregation expanded and, in 1925, moved into a larger brick facility to support its growing ministry.
Yet the Great Depression brought significant hardship. The congregation lost its building and was eventually required to leave, a difficult and defining moment. Even so, the people’s faith endured, and the church continued.
The Ash Crescent Years (1940–1964)
After leaving their previous building, the congregation began again on Ash Crescent Street, gathering first beneath a large oak tree before constructing a new chapel. Led by Rev. Hubert Crain, members built much of the church themselves, creating not only a place of worship but a lasting testament to their faith, perseverance, and shared commitment to one another.
For more than two decades, Ash Crescent Methodist Church faithfully served the surrounding neighborhood, growing in worship, fellowship, and outreach while laying the foundation for the church’s future.
As Fort Worth continued to grow and change, so did the congregation. In the early 1960s, plans for the construction of Interstate 30 required the church to relocate once again. Though difficult, the congregation viewed the move as an opportunity to continue its ministry in a new place, preparing for the next chapter in its story.
Saint Matthew Finds Its Home (1964–1982)
By the mid-1960s, the congregation known as Ash Crescent Methodist Church had reached another turning point in its journey.
For many years, the church had faithfully served its neighborhood, adapting as East Fort Worth continued to grow and change. Now the congregation sensed that God was calling it into a new chapter—one that would include a new name, a new home, and new opportunities for ministry.
On September 20, 1965, the Central Texas Conference officially approved changing the congregation’s name to Saint Matthew Methodist Church and authorized its move to a new location. The following year, the conference recorded Saint Matthew at its new home on Handley-Hitson Lane.
Although the congregation had a new name and a new address, it remained the same church family. The faith, relationships, and traditions nurtured through the Ash Crescent years were carried forward as the congregation began building its future at what is now 2414 Hitson Lane.
The move marked more than a change of address. It established Saint Matthew as a lasting presence in the Meadowbrook community and created new opportunities for worship, fellowship, and service. That same year, Eastwood Methodist Church was discontinued, and its remaining members became part of Saint Matthew. They brought with them meaningful pieces of their worship life, including the Communion table that continues to be used today.
Like many churches, Saint Matthew experienced both seasons of growth and seasons of challenge. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the congregation faithfully navigated changing communities, evolving ministries, and questions about the future. Through God’s grace and the steadfast commitment of its members, Saint Matthew remained rooted in its mission, preparing the way for a remarkable new chapter that would begin in 1982.
A Time of Renewal (1982–2026)
By the early 1980s, Saint Matthew had become an established presence in the Meadowbrook community. Through years of faithful ministry, the congregation had weathered seasons of growth and change while remaining committed to sharing the love of Christ. In 1982, following the ministry of Rev. Archie McCleskey, the Central Texas Conference appointed Rev. W. Max Brennan as pastor of Saint Matthew.
What began as a pastoral appointment became more than forty-four years of faithful ministry—an extraordinary tenure within The United Methodist Church. Over the decades, Rev. Brennan became more than a pastor. He became a trusted shepherd, teacher, and friend whose steady leadership helped shape the lives of generations of Saint Matthew members.
During this season of ministry, Saint Matthew strengthened its commitment to worship, discipleship, music, missions, and hospitality. The congregation became known as a welcoming church where people of all ages found a place to belong, deepen their faith, and serve their neighbors. Through changing times and changing communities, Saint Matthew remained grounded in its mission, guided by the enduring love of Christ.
One of the defining moments of this era came in 1992, when the congregation undertook a major renovation of its sanctuary. More than an expansion, the project transformed the worship space into the sanctuary that continues to serve the congregation today. Designed by architect Greg Wyatt, the sanctuary was reoriented to create the welcoming nave and beautifully designed chancel that naturally draw the congregation’s attention toward Word and Table, reflecting the central place of Scripture and Holy Communion in Methodist worship.
The renovation also introduced furnishings that connect Saint Matthew’s worship with the broader story of the Christian faith. A historic Scottish pulpit and a baptismal font inspired by an eighteenth-century church in London remind worshipers that they are part of a tradition spanning centuries while continuing to proclaim the Gospel in their own community.
Throughout these years, Saint Matthew celebrated baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and countless moments of Christian fellowship. Children grew up in the church, new families found a spiritual home, and lifelong friendships were formed through worship, music, Bible study, missions, and service. The congregation’s reputation for hospitality was not built through programs alone, but through the faithful witness of members who welcomed others with the love of Christ.
As the congregation looked toward the future, another important milestone came in 2022 with the appointment of Rev. Mary Teague as Associate Pastor. Serving alongside Rev. Brennan, she quickly became a familiar and trusted presence through her preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and shared leadership. Those years of ministry together provided a thoughtful and intentional transition, allowing the congregation to embrace its next season with confidence.
By the time Rev. Brennan retired in 2026, few could remember Saint Matthew without him. For more than four decades, he had faithfully walked alongside the congregation through seasons of joy and sorrow, celebration and loss. His ministry left an enduring legacy—not only in the sanctuary that continues to inspire worship or the ministries that flourished during his tenure, but in a congregation firmly rooted in faith and well prepared for the future. Through careful leadership and God’s faithfulness, Saint Matthew entered its next chapter with a strong foundation and a trusted pastoral leader already serving among its people.
A New Chapter (2026-Present)
When Rev. Max Brennan retired in 2026, Saint Matthew closed an extraordinary chapter in its history while opening another filled with hope and promise.
That transition had been thoughtfully prepared over several years. In 2022, the Central Texas Conference appointed Rev. Mary Teague as Associate Pastor, allowing the congregation to come to know her through worship, pastoral care, teaching, and shared ministry. By the time she was appointed Senior Pastor in 2026, she was already a trusted leader within the Saint Matthew family.
Building upon the strong foundation laid by those who came before, Rev. Teague has guided the congregation with a deep love for Christ, a commitment to biblical teaching, and a passion for helping people grow as disciples. Her ministry continues Saint Matthew’s long tradition of welcoming all people, nurturing faith across generations, and serving the surrounding community with compassion and grace.
Today, Saint Matthew remains a vibrant congregation where children, youth, adults, and seniors worship and serve together. Ministries continue to grow, relationships continue to deepen, and the church continues to share Christ’s love through worship, music, education, missions, and fellowship. While the methods of ministry evolve to meet the needs of each new generation, the mission remains unchanged.
More than a century after its earliest roots in East Fort Worth, Saint Matthew continues to be a place where lives are transformed through God’s grace, friendships are formed in Christian community, and people are invited to discover the hope found in Jesus Christ.
A Living Legacy
The story of Saint Matthew United Methodist Church is ultimately not a story about buildings, pastors, or even history itself. It is the story of God’s faithfulness expressed through generations of ordinary people who answered an extraordinary call to love God, love their neighbors, and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
From Missouri Avenue to Glenwood… from Ash Crescent to Hitson Lane… from one generation to the next… the congregation has continued to adapt as East Fort Worth has changed while remaining faithful to the Gospel that first brought its founders together.
Each generation has received the gifts and sacrifices of those who came before. Each has added its own chapter to the story. And each has entrusted that story to those who would follow.
Today, that story continues.
Whether you have worshiped at Saint Matthew for decades or are visiting for the very first time, you are invited to become part of the next chapter. Together, we continue to worship, serve, and share the love of Christ, trusting that God is still writing the story of Saint Matthew.