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A survey was conducted in Garland in early 1957 to establish whether or not a need existed for another Presbyterian church in the community. As a result of that survey, the Church Extension Committee of the Presbytery of Dallas, Presbyterian Church U.S. and the Presbyterian Extension Committee of Dallas, an organization of laymen concerned about meeting the need for additional Presbyterian Churches in Dallas County, began working toward the establishment of a new Presbyterian Church in Garland.
The Presbytery of Dallas, in October 1957, called the Rev. Walter C. Easton to be their evangelist in Garland. They gave him instructions to work toward the organization of a church. Almost immediately, a temporary meeting place was rented in a storefront at 1730 S. First Street. Preaching services were first held at "A New Presbyterian Church" on Sunday, October 13, 1957.
Three months after the first service, the 40 adults attending services at "A New Presbyterian Church" petitioned Dallas Presbytery to organize a church and, on January 19, 1958, the congregation was officially organized as Southminster Presbyterian Church. The congregation immediately called Mr. Easton as our first minister.
The congregation quickly outgrew the temporary quarters and the young church again sought assistance from the Presbyterian Extension Committee of Dallas so we might acquire property and build a church. The Extension Committee provided us with four acres of land in a cotton field at the present site at a cost of $20,000 and then gave the church an additional $25,000 toward the erection of a first unit on the property.
In June of 1958 the congregation elected a building committee that subsequently retained an architectural firm to draw up a master plan for the orderly growth of our facilities and to prepare detailed drawings for a first unit to be an educational building and temporary sanctuary. In July 1959 the move was made to the completed first unit The congregation voted in July 1965 to erect a building that would provide a more fitting sanctuary for the worship of God and also provide more classroom space. A building committee was selected and plans began immediately for our second unit. The first service was held in the new sanctuary in January 1966.
In 1981, the congregation voted to construct an Activity Center that would incorporate a Fellowship Hall, Kitchen and additional classroom space. At the same time, the office area was expanded. The Activity Center was dedicated in June of that year.
Southminster has served the people of Garland and the surrounding area for nearly fifty years under the leadership of six pastors:
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