Click here to read original story posted Jan. 23, 2026. 

By Loretta Fulton

In a couple of years, nobody will recognize Wylie Methodist Church following Sunday’s groundbreaking for a major expansion that will result in an entirely different look.

When completed, the construction project will include an 8,200-square-foot sanctuary, a new gym, covered play area, and small group meeting rooms in the current sanctuary. 

Pastor Jeff Hatcher said 10 people initially shoveled the dirt at the groundbreaking–two from Collier Construction, four church committee chairs, three ministry staff members, and the 96-year-old matriarch of the church who has been a member since 1953.

Groundbreaking for Wylie Methodist Church expansion. Photo courtesy Pastor Jeff Hatcher

“I would say around 200 people were present for the groundbreaking,” Hatcher said.“Everyone was very excited.”

A special part of the ceremony was the ringing of the bell that was donated to the church about 50 years ago by Buffalo Gap Methodist Church when it merged with Wylie Methodist. 

Cost of the entire project is expected to be about $8 million. Hatcher said the church will have approximately $3 million on hand by year’s end. And, 10 acres of land south of Mesa Springs Retirement Village is under contract for another $2.8 million. 

“Our church voted to proceed now because construction costs are only going up,” Hatcher said. 

From left, architect’s drawings show the front view, the new sanctuary, and a gym

Additional space is needed because of the growth of the church in the past few years.

“When I became pastor in 2002, we averaged around 100 per Sunday, ”Hatcher said. “We now average over 350, plus another 100 livestream viewers.”

The church, located at 3430 Antilley Road, was built as the offices of LaJet Inc, an oil company, in the 1970s when Fairway Oaks was being developed. It was purchased in 1992 by Wylie Methodist Church and now has the appearance of a modern office building. 

But that will change with the addition of the new sanctuary, which will extend toward Antilley Road. Architect is Hardy Brown, with Brown, Brown, & Associates in Fort Worth. Contractor is Collier Construction in Abilene. 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene