Founding Families
Photo: Mountain View Methodist Church circa 1900
The Mountain View United Methodist Church was organized in the summer of 1878 as The Society at Walker School House, Pleasant Hill Circuit, Arkansas Conference, M.E. Church South. Walker School, located on the southwest corner of the A.H. Lark farm, was built in 1872 and named for a nearby railroad switch. The Walker School site is at the south end (east side) of Walker School Road in Crawford County, Arkansas.
Five families organized the Methodist Society at Walker School and two of them, the Simeon Ashley Betterton and A.H. Lark families, have direct descendants who are members of the church today. The other founding families were the Littletons, Maps and O’Bryants. The exact date when the name was changed to the Mountain View Methodist Church is not known, but the Mountain View name was used in records as far back as 1883. Augustus and Mary Ann Lark deeded the current location – the intersection of Mountain View Place and Arkansas # 282, north of Alma, Arkansas - to the Church in May 1888. The original church was built in 1890.
Meeting the Needs of a Growing
Community
Photo: 1936 Additions
The 1890 sanctuary had two doors, one for men and one for women. Women had pews on the right side of the church and men on the left, with a knee-high rail down the middle aisle that made it difficult to cross from one side to the other.
In 1936, as the Church grew in spirit and need, the building was raised and a basement was added for classrooms and a fellowship area. During that time, the two-door arrangement was changed to one door at the front, and the rail down the center aisle was removed.
Building Together in Faith
Photo: Fellowship Hall still under construction in January 2001
In 1963, Mountain View took a major step with the construction of a new sanctuary building. Church members contributed both money and labor to the project. The Church Extension Board granted the remainder of the cost, but this amount was quickly repaid. As part of this major project, new pews were installed, stained glass windows were donated, and a new piano was purchased.
The dawn of the 21st century brought the blessing of a new fellowship hall and educational facility, which was completed for the Lenten services in 2001. These additions were made possible by the contributions of more than 70 individuals and families. Fourteen memorial funds were established; gifts to them were donated to the Church building fund. This part of our church history is also displayed in the hallway of the new building.
Brick facing matching the sanctuary was applied to the exterior of the new addition in the summer of 2005.
That the church is still growing and building after 127 years is just further evidence that Mountain View's congregation is working together in Christ to meet the needs of today's Christian families.
Photo: Mountain View Methodist Church circa 1900
The Mountain View United Methodist Church was organized in the summer of 1878 as The Society at Walker School House, Pleasant Hill Circuit, Arkansas Conference, M.E. Church South. Walker School, located on the southwest corner of the A.H. Lark farm, was built in 1872 and named for a nearby railroad switch. The Walker School site is at the south end (east side) of Walker School Road in Crawford County, Arkansas.
Five families organized the Methodist Society at Walker School and two of them, the Simeon Ashley Betterton and A.H. Lark families, have direct descendants who are members of the church today. The other founding families were the Littletons, Maps and O’Bryants. The exact date when the name was changed to the Mountain View Methodist Church is not known, but the Mountain View name was used in records as far back as 1883. Augustus and Mary Ann Lark deeded the current location – the intersection of Mountain View Place and Arkansas # 282, north of Alma, Arkansas - to the Church in May 1888. The original church was built in 1890.
Meeting the Needs of a Growing
Community
Photo: 1936 Additions
The 1890 sanctuary had two doors, one for men and one for women. Women had pews on the right side of the church and men on the left, with a knee-high rail down the middle aisle that made it difficult to cross from one side to the other.
In 1936, as the Church grew in spirit and need, the building was raised and a basement was added for classrooms and a fellowship area. During that time, the two-door arrangement was changed to one door at the front, and the rail down the center aisle was removed.
Building Together in Faith
Photo: Fellowship Hall still under construction in January 2001
In 1963, Mountain View took a major step with the construction of a new sanctuary building. Church members contributed both money and labor to the project. The Church Extension Board granted the remainder of the cost, but this amount was quickly repaid. As part of this major project, new pews were installed, stained glass windows were donated, and a new piano was purchased.
The dawn of the 21st century brought the blessing of a new fellowship hall and educational facility, which was completed for the Lenten services in 2001. These additions were made possible by the contributions of more than 70 individuals and families. Fourteen memorial funds were established; gifts to them were donated to the Church building fund. This part of our church history is also displayed in the hallway of the new building.
Brick facing matching the sanctuary was applied to the exterior of the new addition in the summer of 2005.
That the church is still growing and building after 127 years is just further evidence that Mountain View's congregation is working together in Christ to meet the needs of today's Christian families.
A Fertile Ground for Growing Methodist Preachers
Photo: Summer flowers add their beauty to the church and grounds
At the beginning, the Arkansas Conference appointed the Reverend J. P. Calloway as the Circuit Riding preacher for the Society at Walker School. His preaching was “highly edifying and much good was accomplished by him, in the name of the Lord.” The Reverend W. J. Wood followed Brother Calloway. He brought “quite a revival of religion in the Society.” The third minister was the Reverend T. R. Nichols. He was “a most excellent young man, with deep piety, a most worthy and efficient minister of Jesus Christ. He died at the prime of his noble service to the Lord.” (1)
The Mountain View Church has also had a direct impact on the lives of many Methodists in Arkansas and surrounding states through individuals that grew up in the Church and became Methodist ministers. Three of the sons and one grandson of Augustus and Mary Ann Lark became Methodist ministers, serving in Arkansas and Missouri. Augustus Lark was a licensed Methodist minister himself, as were his sons Fred, Julian and Milton. Their grandson, who served 52 years as a Methodist minister in Missouri, was George Sparling, Jr.
John and Henrietta Galloway became members at Mountain View by transfer of letter in 1883. Henrietta was a sister of Mary Ann Lark. Their son, James J., later became a Methodist minister and was the father of Paul Galloway, who became a well known Methodist minister. Paul served as a Methodist Bishop in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, as well as for the South-central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. Other members of the Galloway family entered Methodist ministry but were not members of Mountain View Methodist Church. Mountain View Church takes a great deal of pride in three other members who became Methodist ministers, Jim O’Brian, James Meadors and Mildred Scott. All of these were members of the Mountain View Church many years before becoming Methodist ministers.
Rev. J. T. Byrd (1969 - 1980) and Rev. David Swift (1993 - 2004) served the longest appointments, each ministering to the congregation for 11 years. Rev. M. C. Blevens served 10 years, from 1959 to 1969 during the building of the new sanctuary. During the tenure of Rev. David Swift (still known as Brother David by the congregation) and his wife Ann, the church completed construction of the new fellowship hall and education wing.
Rev. D. Chris Rink was appointed to serve the Mountain View congregation in 2005. Bro. Chris and his wife Gladys quickly became part of the Mountain View church family. In June 2006, Bro. Chris, who also served as Principal of Mulberry High School, was appointed Superintendent of the Hartford School District.
The June 2006 appointment of Rev. Lynn D. Strang to the Mountain View charge opens another opportunity for our church to grow in Christian service. Bro. Lynn continues a family tradition of preaching the gospel. During the 1800's, Bro. Lynn's great grandfather, W. J. Simmons, was a Methodist circuit rider along the Arkansas frontier. Bro. Lynn, his wife, Enola Gay, and their children have already proven to be a welcome addition to our church community.
From the beginning to the present, 67 distinguished Methodist ministers have served our congregation. We have been blessed in the uplifting evangelical leadership they provided. Today, the Church still enjoys a continuation of the revival of Christian spirit through the goodness of the ministry that began over 140 years ago.
(1) Quotations are from the writings of A.H. Lark.
Revised 5/27/15
Photo: Summer flowers add their beauty to the church and grounds
At the beginning, the Arkansas Conference appointed the Reverend J. P. Calloway as the Circuit Riding preacher for the Society at Walker School. His preaching was “highly edifying and much good was accomplished by him, in the name of the Lord.” The Reverend W. J. Wood followed Brother Calloway. He brought “quite a revival of religion in the Society.” The third minister was the Reverend T. R. Nichols. He was “a most excellent young man, with deep piety, a most worthy and efficient minister of Jesus Christ. He died at the prime of his noble service to the Lord.” (1)
The Mountain View Church has also had a direct impact on the lives of many Methodists in Arkansas and surrounding states through individuals that grew up in the Church and became Methodist ministers. Three of the sons and one grandson of Augustus and Mary Ann Lark became Methodist ministers, serving in Arkansas and Missouri. Augustus Lark was a licensed Methodist minister himself, as were his sons Fred, Julian and Milton. Their grandson, who served 52 years as a Methodist minister in Missouri, was George Sparling, Jr.
John and Henrietta Galloway became members at Mountain View by transfer of letter in 1883. Henrietta was a sister of Mary Ann Lark. Their son, James J., later became a Methodist minister and was the father of Paul Galloway, who became a well known Methodist minister. Paul served as a Methodist Bishop in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, as well as for the South-central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. Other members of the Galloway family entered Methodist ministry but were not members of Mountain View Methodist Church. Mountain View Church takes a great deal of pride in three other members who became Methodist ministers, Jim O’Brian, James Meadors and Mildred Scott. All of these were members of the Mountain View Church many years before becoming Methodist ministers.
Rev. J. T. Byrd (1969 - 1980) and Rev. David Swift (1993 - 2004) served the longest appointments, each ministering to the congregation for 11 years. Rev. M. C. Blevens served 10 years, from 1959 to 1969 during the building of the new sanctuary. During the tenure of Rev. David Swift (still known as Brother David by the congregation) and his wife Ann, the church completed construction of the new fellowship hall and education wing.
Rev. D. Chris Rink was appointed to serve the Mountain View congregation in 2005. Bro. Chris and his wife Gladys quickly became part of the Mountain View church family. In June 2006, Bro. Chris, who also served as Principal of Mulberry High School, was appointed Superintendent of the Hartford School District.
The June 2006 appointment of Rev. Lynn D. Strang to the Mountain View charge opens another opportunity for our church to grow in Christian service. Bro. Lynn continues a family tradition of preaching the gospel. During the 1800's, Bro. Lynn's great grandfather, W. J. Simmons, was a Methodist circuit rider along the Arkansas frontier. Bro. Lynn, his wife, Enola Gay, and their children have already proven to be a welcome addition to our church community.
From the beginning to the present, 67 distinguished Methodist ministers have served our congregation. We have been blessed in the uplifting evangelical leadership they provided. Today, the Church still enjoys a continuation of the revival of Christian spirit through the goodness of the ministry that began over 140 years ago.
(1) Quotations are from the writings of A.H. Lark.
Revised 5/27/15
