AS ANGLO SETTLERS BEGAN MOVING INTO TARRANT COUNTY AND THE AREA THAT WOULD BECOME KENNEDALE, THEY BROUGHT THEIR METHODIST FAITH WITH THEM. MOST LIKELY, METHODISTS WHO SETTLED IN THE AREA WOULD TRAVEL TO NEARBY CENTER POINT TO HEAR A CIRCUIT RIDER PREACHER. THE TOWN OF KENNEDALE WAS PLATTED IN 1886, AND A SCHOOL BUILT IN 1887. THE SCHOOL ALLOWED THE METHODISTS USE OF THEIR BUILDING. IN 1896, A PLOT OF LAND WAS DEEDED TO H.L. THOMAS AND THE REST OF THE CHURCH TRUSTEES. MEMBERS BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN 1903 ON A SIMPLE, GABLED, WOOD FRAME CHURCH BUILDING. THE FIRST PARSONAGE WAS BUILT SHORTLY AFTER. IN THEIR COMPLETED STRUCTURE, THE CHURCH HOSTED A REVIVAL THAT DREW ATTENDEES FROM MANY SURROUNDING CITIES. IN THE 1920S, THE REVEREND A.E. TURNEY ORGANIZED A BASEBALL TEAM. THE TEAM PLAYED ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS, MUCH TO THE DISMAY OF MANY CHURCH MEMBERS. IN 1941, THE CHURCH APPOINTED ITS FIRST FULL-TIME PASTOR, W.L. CONNELL. KENNEDALE INCORPORATED AS A CITY IN 1947. AFTER WORLD WAR II, TARRANT COUNTY AND KENNEDALE EXPERIENCED POPULATION GROWTH. WHILE PRE-WAR KENNEDALE HAD A POPULATION OF AROUND 312, BY 1950, THE POPULATION HAD RISEN TO 1,000. THE CONGREGATION FELT THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF SO MANY NEW PARISHIONERS. A NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL WAS COMPLETED IN 1950. A NEW PARSONAGE FOLLOWED THE NEXT YEAR, ALONG WITH CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW SANCTUARY. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND ALLEN J. MOORE, THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING WAS DEDICATED ON SEP 18, 1955. ATTENDANCE CONTINUED TO GROW THROUGHOUT THE 1950S, ONE 1950S REPORT QUOTING 174 MEMBERS. A 1961 EDUCATION BUILDING SERVED THE GROWING CHURCH. IN 1971, MEMBERSHIP REACHED 293. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF KENNEDALE HAS PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SERVING AS A MEETING SPACE AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD TO THOSE IN NEED. (2022)