First UMC McKinney Wins 2026 Kate Warnick Award for Church History Excellence

First United Methodist Church McKinney, a congregation of the Horizon Texas Conference, has been honored with the 2026 Kate Warnick Award for Excellence in Local Church History in the Large Church Category — one of the most prestigious recognitions for local church history in United Methodist circles.

The award was presented by the Texas United Methodist Historical Society to First United Methodist Church McKinney, Texas: Sharing the Heart of Christ from the Heart of McKinney for 175 Years: 1851–1926, authored by Catherine Kays and Dana Clifton.

One of the earliest Methodist congregations in North Texas, First UMC McKinney has grown to more than 4,500 members and has worshipped in its distinctive red brick building in downtown McKinney since 1901. Lead author Catherine Kays — a sixth-generation member of the church — brings a deeply personal perspective to the history, recalling her habit of touching the sanctuary pews in remembrance of the ancestors who sat there before her.

The book captures the rich tapestry of lay and clergy leadership that has defined the congregation across 175 years. Among the highlights: three church members who served as mayor of McKinney; a Sunday school superintendent who served in that role for over 50 years; and the story of a generous bachelor who donated the church's iconic bell — prompting a local newspaper to note he "ought to marry."

Kays pays particular tribute to the women of the church, writing that "while my male ancestors were members of the church in most cases, the women were active and the nurturers of family faith." Female leaders highlighted in the book include a benefactor of the 1901 sanctuary, a sponsor of missionary work in McKinney and Africa, and a tireless volunteer who, as Kays puts it, "volunteered whether you asked her to volunteer or not."

"The new history of First UMC McKinney is a refreshing testimony to the joy of church life," said Kent Roberts, chair of the Kate Warnick Award committee. "In a hundred ways, the authors document what made and makes First Church unique in the lives of the congregation."

Established in 1978 by the Texas United Methodist Historical Society, the Kate Warnick Awards recognize exemplary local church histories from congregations across the five Annual Conferences that make up the Society: Horizon Texas, Rio Texas, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Indian Mission. For more information on the Kate Warnick Award guidelines, visit the Bridwell Library website.

Kent Roberts and The Texas United Methodist Historical Society contributed to this story.