FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HAD ITS ORIGIN IN A BRUSH ARBOR ON THE NORTH LITTLE ROCK BANKS OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER IN 1877. IN 1886, WITH FEWER THAN A HUNDRED MEMBERS, THE FIRST BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR THAT METHODIST CONGREGATION AT THIRD AND MAIN STREETS AND WAS NAMED THE ARGENTA MISSION, LATER THE DYE MEMORIAL CHAPEL, IN MEMORY OF THE FIRST PASTOR, REVEREND JOHN H. DYE. 
IN 1913, THE GROWING MEMBERSHIP BUILT A MUCH LARGER CHURCH JUST A BLOCK AWAY ON THE CORNER OF THIRD AND MAPLE STREETS. BY THE LATE 1940'S, THE BUILDING HAD BECOME INADEQUATE FOR THE GROWING SUNDAY SCHOOL AND INSUFFICIENT PARKING SPACE WAS PRESENTING A PROBLEM. 
IN 1951, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REV. JAMES WORKMAN, THE CONGREGATION COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CHURCH AT 22ND AND POPLAR STREETS. BUT THE QUIET HILL UPON WHICH THE POPLAR STREET CHURCH HAD BEEN BUILT BECAME VERY NOISY AND BUSY WHEN THE FREEWAY INTERSECTION OF I-40 AND I-30 WAS BUILT NEARBY, AND THE CONGREGATION BEGAN TO LOOK AGAIN FOR ANOTHER LOCATION. AS THE INDIAN HILLS COMMUNITY OF NORTH LITTLE ROCK DEVELOPED, A NEW METHODIST CONGREGATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1964, MEETING FIRST IN THE HOMES OF CHURCH MEMBERS,
AND LATER IN A BUILDING ON JOHN F. KENNEDY BLVD. IN OCTOBER 1977, IN AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN BOTH CHURCH FAMILIES, INDIAN HILLS UNITED METHODIST AND FIRST UNITED METHODIST MERGED TO FORM THE "NEW" North Little Rock FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH A NEW SANCTUARY, OFFICE WING, AND FELLOWSHIP HALL WERE ADDED IN 1980. A TWO-STORY CLASSROOM/DAYCARE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1994. OUR CHURCH FAMILY NOW TOTALS ABOUT 1,500 MEMBERS. |