First United Methodist Church of Austin
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1840, shortly after Austin was incorporated, the Rev.John Haynie (1786-1860), a Methodist circuit rider from the Mississippi Conference, led 14 members in forming this fellowship. They worshiped at temporary sites, including the Capitol building of Republic of Texas. In 1847 they completed their first church building, a wooden structure on Congress Avenue and 4th Street, during the pastorate of the Rev. Homer S. Thrall (1819-1894 ), circuit rider and well-known author of Texas and Methodist history. Doctors met in the original building in 1853 to from the Texas Medical Association. In 1854, under the Rev. John W. Phillips ( 1821-1891 ), the original church was sold and a new brick edifice built at Brazos and 10th Street. In 1884 Dr. A. E.Goodwyn (1818-1902) led construction of a larger building at that site. For a time this congregation was called Tenth Street Methodist Church. The members bought the present property in 1921 and built this Neo-Classical structure. Pastors instrumental in building and improving the present church facility include Dr. Edward R. Barcus (1872-1958), Dr. W. F. Bryan (1872-1965) , Dr. Marvin S. Vance (1905-1966) and Dr. Robert S. Tate, Jr. (1914-1976). As Austin's second oldest Protestant congregation this fellowship has made significant contributions to the state's history. (1978)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1840, only a year after Austin was laid out as capital of the young Republic of Texas, a Methodist circuit rider named John Haynie gathered fourteen members into a fellowship that first worshiped in temporary quarters — including the Republic's own Capitol building. The congregation built a wooden church on Congress Avenue in 1847, later a brick edifice at Brazos and 10th, and finally the Neo-Classical structure on the present property purchased in 1921. In 1853 doctors meeting in its original building organized the Texas Medical Association.
Why it matters
As Austin's second-oldest Protestant congregation, the church traces the city's growth from a frontier capital of an independent republic into a permanent seat of Texas civic and religious life.
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Related people
- · John Haynie
- · Homer S. Thrall
- · John W. Phillips
Related events
- · Founding of the Texas Medical Association (1853)
Themes & tags
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