Editing The Woodlands, Texas (section)

=== Religion ===
{{See also|Religion in Houston}}
{{Asof|2016}}, there were almost 50 centers of worship in The Woodlands, occupying a total of {{convert|330|acre|ha}} of land.<ref name="BalchChurches2">{{cite web|title=Churches grow with Woodlands population|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Churches-grow-with-Woodlands-population-9055698.php|author=Balch, Bridget|date=2016-08-02|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}} - Also published as: [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Live-work-and-pray-Churches-grow-in-The-6319433.php "Live, work and pray: Churches grow in The Woodlands"].</ref> As of 2011, the community is majority [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref name="ShellnutnewHindutempleopen2">Shellnutt, Kate. [http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/New-temple-will-serve-north-Houston-Hindus-2081265.php "New temple will serve north Houston Hindus"]. ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. June 26, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2014.</ref>

{{Asof|2018}}, The Woodlands [[United Methodist Church]] had about 13,000 members in its congregation. It was established in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|title=Villager Q&A;: Senior Pastor Ed Robb discusses church growth and leadership|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Villager-Q-A-Senior-Pastor-Ed-Robb-discusses-13212598.php|author=Stueckemann, Jane|date=2018-09-07|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[The Villager (The Woodlands, Texas)|The Villager]]}}</ref> Pastor [[Kerry Shook]] established Fellowship of The Woodlands Church, now known as Woodlands Church, in 1993.<ref name="Meinholz2">{{cite web|title=Fellowship of The Woodlands opens church in Atascocita|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Fellowship-of-The-Woodlands-opens-church-in-9622702.php|author=Meinholz, Susan|date=2007-09-12|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Its permanent church building opened on August 19, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fellowship of The Woodlands Church moves into new home|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Fellowship-of-The-Woodlands-Church-moves-into-new-9948282.php|author=Bosse, Sondra|date=2001-08-09|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Church Project, which holds services in a former [[Kroger]], had an average weekly attendance of 1,500 in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last=Garris|first=Jonathan|date=February 11, 2014|title=Church Project continues to grow congregation|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|url=https://www.chron.com/life/health/article/Church-Project-continues-to-grow-congregation-9600080.php|access-date=21 October 2018}}</ref> {{Asof|2018}} Christ Church United Methodist has about 3,000 members.<ref name="Forward2">{{cite news|author=Forward, Jeff|date=2018-05-06|title=Hindu Temple, Christ Church in midst of expansions in The Woodlands|newspaper=[[The Villager (The Woodlands, Texas)|The Villager]]|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Hindu-Temple-Christ-United-church-in-midst-of-12892122.php|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref> Circa 2012 Covenant United Methodist Church began its worship services at Timber Creek Elementary School, and by 2016 bought {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land near the entrance of Village of Creekside Park for a permanent 700-seat facility.<ref name="BalchChurches2" /> On December 25, 2001, the Korean Community Church in The Woodlands, with Presbyterian [[Korean language|Korean-language]] services and [[Nondenominational Christianity|non-denominational]] English services, opened. It opened to serve ethnic Koreans in The Woodlands, [[Conroe, Texas|Conroe]], [[Huntsville, Texas|Huntsville]], [[Kingwood, Houston|Kingwood]], and [[Spring, Texas|Spring]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Korean church opens in Woodlands|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Korean-church-opens-in-Woodlands-9751513.php|author=Durham, Erika E.|date=2003-03-13|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=2019-10-17}}</ref> Other Protestant, Christian and non-denominational Christian churches in The Woodlands include HopePointe Anglican Church, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Unity of The Woodlands.<ref name="Forward2" />

Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Parish, the first [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] church in The Woodlands, was established circa 1980, with its 400 parishioners initially meeting at Knox Junior High School before moving into its permanent building in 1981. {{Asof|2013}} it had 3,800 families in its congregation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Catholic church in The Woodlands to celebrate renovation|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Catholic-church-in-The-Woodlands-to-celebrate-4897899.php|author=Peyton, Lindsay|date=2013-10-15|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[The Villager (The Woodlands, Texas)|The Villager]]}}</ref> St. Anthony of Padua, another Catholic church, had 3,020 families in its congregation in 2006,<ref name=DooleyMembershipBoom>{{cite web|author=Dooley, Tara|url=https://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Catholic-archdiocese-seeing-membership-boom-1490961.php|title=Catholic archdiocese seeing membership boom|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2006-03-25|access-date=2020-06-02}}</ref> and 5,700 families in its congregation in 2013. It operates St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School.<ref name="BalchChurches2" />

There are two Jewish places of worship, traditional and reformed. Congregation Beth Shalom, established circa 1984 led by Rabbi Edwin C. Goldberg, has about 175 families,<ref>{{cite web|title=Woodlands synagogue to welcome new spiritual leader|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Woodlands-synagogue-to-welcome-new-spiritual-9776515.php|author=Trumble, Janet|date=2004-01-20|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> and is affiliated with [[Reform Judaism]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Stueckemann, Jane|date=2018-09-11|title=Symbols of Faith: Torah represents covenant with God for synagogue in The Woodlands|newspaper=[[The Villager (The Woodlands, Texas)|The Villager]]|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Symbols-of-Faith-Torah-represents-covenant-with-13221414.php|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref> Its affiliated organizations are the Association of Reformed Congregations and the [[Union of American Hebrew Congregations]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jewish families prepare to celebrate Jewish New Year|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/article/Jewish-families-prepare-to-celebrate-Jewish-New-9931240.php|author=Fredericks, Melinda|date=2000-09-28|access-date=2018-09-12|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Chabad of The Woodlands was established in 2011 by Rabbi Mendel and Leah Blecher.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Villager Q & A: Rabbi Mendel Blecher of Chabad of The Woodlands|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Villager-Q-A-Rabbi-Mendel-Blecher-of-Chabad-of-12704471.php|last=Dillon|first=Patricia|date=2018-02-23|website=Houston Chronicle|access-date=2019-09-24}}</ref> It is a branch of the worldwide [[Chabad|Chabad Lubavitch]] movement, offering traditional-style services to contemporary Jewish families.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chabad of The Woodlands celebrates new Torah|url=http://jhvonline.com/chabad-of-the-woodlands-celebrates-new-torah-p26519-96.htm|website=jhvonline.com|access-date=2019-09-24}}</ref> Chabad of The Woodlands inaugurated and sponsors the annual [[Hanukkah]] on Market Street celebration,<ref>{{cite web|title=Community gathers to light menorah, celebrate Hanukkah|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/events/article/Community-gathers-to-light-menorah-celebrate-12434658.php|author=Dillon, Patricia|date=2017-12-15|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=2019-10-17|agency=[[The Woodlands Villager]]}}</ref> and established the first Jewish preschool in the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Woodlands' first Jewish-focused preschool aims to keep traditions alive|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Woodlands-first-Jewish-focused-preschool-aims-14056918.php|author=Stueckmann, Jane|date=2019-06-27|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=2019-10-17|agency=[[The Woodlands Villager]]}}</ref>

In 2011, there were 350 Hindu families in The Woodlands. In a 15-year period ending in 2011, the Hindu population in the Woodlands increased by 300%, and Kate Shellnut of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' stated that according to "Hindu leaders" every year the Hindu population in The Woodlands grows by 20 to 25 families.<ref name="ShellnutnewHindutempleopen2" /> The [[Hindu Temple of The Woodlands]], a Hindu temple serving the northern part of [[Greater Houston]], was scheduled to open in 2010.<ref name="ShellnutnewHindutempleopen2" /> Another Hindu temple, Char Dham Hindu Temple, was founded by Surya Sahoo.<ref>Thornton, Carrie. [http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/woodlands/news/woodlands-hindu-temple-causes-residential-concerns/article_a91d107a-5c55-5877-85ba-9b81ec0ea8fd.html "Woodlands Hindu Temple causes residential concerns"]. ''[[The Villager (The Woodlands, Texas)|The Villager]]'' (The Woodlands). February 3, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2014.</ref>

Masjid al-Ansaar (Woodlands Islamic Center) of the [[Islamic Society of Greater Houston]] (ISGH) was created in 2009, and in 2019 it had 300 parishioners.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mosque in The Woodlands celebrates 10 years|url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/news/article/Mosque-in-The-Woodlands-celebrates-10-years-14515843.php|author=Swinnerton, Jamie|date=2019-10-11|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|access-date=2019-10-23|agency=[[The Woodlands Villager]]}}</ref> It is in an [[unincorporated area]] outside of The Woodlands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Islamic Centers|url=https://isgh.org/islamic-centers/|publisher=Islamic Society of Greater Houston|access-date=2019-10-23|quote=Masjid al-Ansaar (Woodlands Islamic Center) Address: 15217 Sunset Trail Conroe TX. 77384}}</ref>