While ASHFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH was
not chartered until 1970, its beginnings can be traced back much
further.
On
November 27, 1961, W.E. "Fred" Loggins and his wife Hazel
donated 6 acres of land to Westminster United Methodist Church, with the
intention that a church would be built there. The tract laid along what
was then a narrow, two lane road: Dairy Ashford.
Seven months later, Westminster Church
turned the land over to the Houston Methodist Board of Missions. In
December, 1969, the Loggins’ donated another acre of land to the Board
of Missions.
The Church family began taking shape in
June of 1969 when the Board Of Missions made a down payment on the
original parsonage, and appointed Reverend Don Willis to organize a
church. The parsonage was deeded to Ashford United Methodist Church in
October of 1969.
Shortly after Reverend Willis was
appointed, an article about a new church appeared in the newspaper. That
article generated several calls from people interested in helping form
the Church. One couple that responded was Stella and Earl Montgomery.
They telephoned Reverend Willis, then met with him at the parsonage. A
few days later, the first organizational meeting was held in the
Montgomerys' home.
Construction of the buildings, as well as a parking lot and drilling of a water well were paid for by the Houston Board Of Missions. The church was expected to repay the Board for this work, and had the option of either buying the metal buildings, or returning them to the Board for use by another church.
The young church was officially granted its charter in February of 1970.
