First United Methodist Church of Waco
Waco, McLennan County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1850 the Rev. Joseph P. Sneed and 23 charter members founded this congregation, the first church in the townsite of Waco. Services were held initially in a log cabin at Second and Jackson Street. The Methodists shared their building with the First Baptist and First Presbyterian churches. This fellowship worshiped at two other locations before moving to Fifth and Jackson Street in 1876. The Fifth Street congregation became First Methodist Church in 1919. The members moved to the present site in 1963.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in 1850 by the Rev. Joseph P. Sneed and 23 charter members, this was the very first church in the new townsite of Waco, meeting at first in a log cabin. In a spirit of frontier cooperation, the Methodists shared their building with the town's fledgling Baptist and Presbyterian congregations. The fellowship moved several times over the following century before settling at its present site in 1963.
Why it matters
The first church in a raw townsite was often its first true institution, and the sharing of one roof among rival denominations shows how frontier communities pooled what little they had.
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Related people
- · Joseph P. Sneed
Themes & tags
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