The First United Methodist Church in Abilene TX has a long history.  Organized as a congregation in 1881, just as the town was established, it was the first church to have a building in area which was a stock shipping point on the Texas and Pacific Railway.

By 1900 Abilene (named after Abilene KS) had grown to 3400 people and the First United Methodist Church was in their second home.  In 1925 there were 3 colleges in Abilene and the church was in it’s third building as the need for more congregate space continued to increase.

In 1965 First United Methodist built their current location at 202 Butternut.  But as the congregation continued to grow, they saw the need for an activity center.  But the question was how to join the two buildings.  Crystal Structures was brought in to add a beautiful, tall atrium to bridge the buildings.  The architecture was planned to complement the style of the 1965 structure while adding a stylish entry way.

The atrium area was 33′ tall at the apex and 20′ tall at the eave.  The length across the front is 31′ and the interior width is 27′.  This was a really nice area for receptions and gatherings.

Unfortunately, the church and atrium fell victim to a massive hailstorm on June 12, 2014.  Baseball (and larger) size hail shattered the stained glass windows, totalled the church building roofs, and crushed the laminated glass panes in the atrium.  The city of Abilene sustained over $400 million in damages.

The photos below show construction and finished project before the devastation.

Under Construction

Through the framework

Stained Glass Windows

Glazing starts

Glazing in process

Vestibule behind door

Almost complete

Ready for visitors

Sun through glass

Details of building

Looking through glass

Vestibule behind doors

Inviting entry

Finished structure

Another view

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