First United Methodist Church parsonage renovated, re-dedicated

First United Methodist Church Rev. Pete McNabb, and wife Daria, welcomed church members and leaders along with local citizens to the dedication for what will soon become their new home.

The two-story parsonage at 311 Church St. recently received some much-needed repairs and updating, to better serve as a home for the McNabbs and their son.

Built in 1947, the FUMC parsonage was first occupied by the Rev. Thomas Hardy and family. It was “dedicated to the glory of God” on March 6, 1955. Over the years, pastors chose to live off-site in other church-owned houses and some chose to purchase their own homes. The parsonage over the years has been relegated to use more by Sunday school and other groups than as a home for the head of the church.

In March of this year, FUMC Board of Directors and the Staff Parish Relations Committee voted to have the parsonage completely renovated the parsonage, modernize it more. Robinson Bennett Construction was chosen as the general contractor. Work began in mid-April to transform every room of the house while maintaining the historic touches of mid-century America.

Final touch-ups were reportedly being made last week, in readiness for the re-dedication and the Mc-Nabbs occupancy. The formal re-dedication service was held Sunday, July 23, with a few dozen citizens and parishioners in attendance.

“It’s our home, but it’s actually the people’s house and belongs to this community. It’s a mid-century building that is now energy and technologically-efficient, as well as totally restored and reclaimed for the glory and service of God in new ways for this new century. It was a wonderful job done by RBC Construction,” the new FUMC pastor noted.

McNabb showed a booklet from the first dedication ceremony compiled by former pastor Thomas Hardy and his family, who served in Sulphur Springs, but later moved on to serve the Terrell, Texas congregation.

“Today, we employed a song used back then, made popular by Perry Como in the 1950s, called ‘Bless This House.’ I feel it was very fitting to have this great crowd of people gathered here today, to sing that song with us on the steps as a blessing, and then in celebration, to enter and tour the People’s House,” McNabb said.

Church members and tustees commented on the project.

“This parsonage was originally built in 1947 by my great-grandfather, P.F. Braden, who was a building contractor,” said John Sellers. “And the architect was Shirley Simons, a wellknown architect out of Tyler, who designed a number of buildings in Sulphur Springs. It is lovely to see it brought back to use.'

“We’ve had other properties in the past which served as parsonages, but we have sold them and are proud we could make this home ready,' Judy Jones said.

Tim Gee remarked on the increased storage and kitchen spaces which maintains the domicile's mid-century appeal.

Larry Crowson, who oversaw the parsonage improvement project, indicated he was especially glad the upper balcony at the rear of the home was able to be restored as a useful part of the dwelling.