Waco Belfry https://austinavenueumc.org/ A magazine on the historic church buildings and downtown congregations of Waco, Texas, from Gothic Revival sanctuaries to closed and reused sacred spaces. en-us Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMT Church records and how historians use themhttps://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/record-keeping/https://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/record-keeping/Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTCongregations and HistoryHow congregational records, registers and property files are used to document Waco church history. Methodist congregations in Waco, 1900 to 2019https://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/methodism-waco/https://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/methodism-waco/Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTCongregations and HistoryHow Methodist congregations in Waco were founded, merged and consolidated between 1900 and 2019. Bell towers and the sound of a downtown blockhttps://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/bell-towers/https://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/bell-towers/Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuildings and ArchitectureBell towers of Waco's downtown churches, how their bells were rung and how the sound shaped a city block. Gothic Revival brick churches of downtown Wacohttps://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/gothic-revival-waco/https://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/gothic-revival-waco/Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuildings and ArchitectureA guide to Gothic Revival brick churches in downtown Waco, their pointed arches, buttresses and bell towers. Handbell choirs and the music rooms of a churchhttps://austinavenueumc.org/worship/handbells/https://austinavenueumc.org/worship/handbells/Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTWorship and MusicHandbell choirs, rehearsal rooms and the music life of a downtown Waco church across the twentieth century. The Sunday school movement and the wings churches builthttps://austinavenueumc.org/ministries/sunday-school/https://austinavenueumc.org/ministries/sunday-school/Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTMinistries and RoomsHow the Sunday school movement led Waco churches to add education wings and classrooms behind the sanctuary. Weekday preschool and Montessori ministrieshttps://austinavenueumc.org/ministries/preschool/https://austinavenueumc.org/ministries/preschool/Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTMinistries and RoomsHow weekday preschool and Montessori ministries used the rooms of Waco church buildings during the week. The Sunday sermon and the radio broadcast that carried ithttps://austinavenueumc.org/worship/sermons/https://austinavenueumc.org/worship/sermons/Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTWorship and MusicHow the Sunday sermon was preached in downtown Waco and carried by radio broadcasts to listeners at home. A photographic walk around a Gothic Revival churchhttps://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/photo-gallery/https://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/photo-gallery/Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuildings and ArchitectureA photographic walk around the exterior of a Gothic Revival church, from the bell tower and buttresses to the doors. Step by step through a traditional Methodist servicehttps://austinavenueumc.org/worship/order-of-worship/https://austinavenueumc.org/worship/order-of-worship/Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTWorship and MusicA step by step account of a traditional Methodist Sunday service, from the prelude and call to worship to the benediction. Reading the stained glass of a 1920s Waco sanctuaryhttps://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/stained-glass/https://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/stained-glass/Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuildings and ArchitectureHow to read the stained glass of a 1920s Waco sanctuary and what replaced the original art glass over time. A documented history of the Austin Avenue congregationhttps://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/history/https://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/history/Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTCongregations and HistoryA documented history of the congregation that built at Austin Avenue and South 13th Street in Waco, Texas. The order and music of a traditional Methodist Sundayhttps://austinavenueumc.org/worship/worship/https://austinavenueumc.org/worship/worship/Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTWorship and MusicTraditional Methodist worship order, sermon broadcast and choirs, as practiced in downtown Waco churches. How downtown Waco congregations were founded, merged and consolidatedhttps://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/congregations/https://austinavenueumc.org/congregations/congregations/Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTCongregations and HistoryMethodist and other downtown Waco congregations traced from 1900 to 2019, including the mergers that emptied sanctuaries. Walking Waco's church buildings, brick by brickhttps://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/buildings/https://austinavenueumc.org/buildings/buildings/Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:00:00 GMTBuildings and ArchitectureGothic Revival sanctuaries, bell towers and stained glass across downtown Waco, building by building and block by block.