History:

The Summit United Methodist Church was first organized in December of 1886 as part of a four-point circuit known as the Marshall Mission Charge.  The organizational service was held in the home of R.H. Rodgers with 15 charter members present. Rev. Leon Sonfield, a young Jewish convert, was appointed as the first pastor.

At the Annual Conference held in Marshall in 1887, Rev. Sonfield reported that he was pastor of four congregations, with a total membership of 85. The "Summit" congregation totaled 24, and met in a small white-frame, one-room, church at the corner of Summit and Louisiana Streets.

The 1903 Texas Annual Conference made the church a full charge with the name of North Marshal Methodist Episcopal church, south.  Rev. W.W. Gallihugh was appointed as the pastor.

Rev. Gallihugh served as pastor on two occasions: 1903-1907 and again from 1910-1914. During his first pastorate a larger church structure was built. The 1912 Charge Conference changed the name of the church to Summit Street Methodist Episcopal Church.  The 1904 structure was remodeled twice during the pastorate of Rev. J.E. McGaughy, 1938-1943.  The first remodeling (1939) was part of building program which included a new 2-story brick educational building.  The second remodeling (1943) was quite extensive. It involved bricking the old structure and having it front on Louisiana Street.

The congregation continued at this location until the sanctuary and educational building were destroyed by fire in January 1978. This occurred during the pastorate of Dr. William Russell.

The congregation had owned a 6 acre tract on U.S. Hwy 59 at Sedberry for several years before the fire.  The membership voted to rebuild on the new site, just a few blocks from former location.  Under the leadership or Rev. Russell, a beautiful new structure was built. The first worship service at the new location was held on Christmas Sunday, December 23, 1979. The new facility and location has helped the church to expand from a neighborhood church to a church easily accessible to the Marshall area.