On a beautiful Sunday in September, 1874, nineteen people gathered in a new, small wood-frame building at the corner of what is now Oak Lawn Avenue and Cedar Springs Road in Dallas, Texas. This building served not only as a church on Sunday, but as a community center. This was the beginning of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church.

As the community and congregation grew, there came a need for a new building, which was constructed in 1890. Still the congregation grew, and in 1916, building was completed on a great brick Gothic-style sanctuary with art-glass windows, a pipe organ, and the bell which had been in the 1890 building. Later additions in 1928 and 1950 would make it the great block-long church of today.

For more information on the history of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, a book titled "The Oak Lawn Vision" is available for purchase. The book was written in 1989 by Charles G. Cullum and records the 115-year history of the church. To purchase a copy of this book, call the church office at (214) 521-5197 or e-mail oaklawn@olumc.org.