Community holds dedication for Mount Zion United Methodist Church

July 3, 2025

By Susan Kolodziejczyk

The Belton Journal

The Belton community recently celebrated the completed restoration of one of the few surviving early African American churches in Texas. On Friday, local officials and members of the community held a dedication ceremony at the historic Mount Zion United Methodist Church following a more than $500,000 restoration project, according to a press release by the City of Belton. City Manager Sam Listi said that the church has served as a place of worship and community gatherings for generations.


“It reflects the legacy and heritage of the African American community in Belton,” he said.


Originally built in 1893, the church resides in its original location along the western banks of Nolan Creek, which is now the Nolan Creek Hike and Bike Trail. The church also stands close to the former T.B. Harris School for African American students – now the Harris Community Center – that was restored in 2005. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.


Following remarks from representatives of Preservation Texas and the project team, the Belton Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting at the entrance of the church. Attendees had the opportunity for self-guided tours of the church’s restored interior along with a viewing of before-and-after photos of the restoration work.


The ceremony also included members of the church’s congregation. Listi expressed appreciation to the church members for their cooperation throughout the nearly five-year restoration process. He also acknowledged past congregation members such as journalist and pastor Roscoe Harrison and Connie Demerson, a former Belton ISD board member and advocate for the Harris School rehabilitation.


Listi also recognized the project’s architect, Carter Design Group and contractor, RM Rodriguez, for the church’s transformation. Per the release, a vision for the church’s restoration began in 2018. In 2020, the city began to seek state and federal grants to restore the church’s exterior and interior. This includes the masonry, siding, windows, roof, bell tower, flooring, ceilings, painting, and air conditioning.


Funding for the $573,889 project came from the following sources:

  • Preservation Texas Grant (2022): $77,500
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation Grant (2023): $100,000
  • Mount Zion United Methodist Church: $25,000
  • City of Belton Federal ARPA Funds (2022): $371,389
  • The city served as both grant applicant and project manager for the project.