Site of Tenth Street Methodist Church
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Austin Methodists organized in 1840 and began in 1847 worshiping at Congress and 4th Street. This site was purchased in 1853 and a building was begun under the Rev. John W. Phillips (1821-1891). In 1883, the Rev. A. E. Goodwyn (1818-1902) led in the construction of a larger sanctuary. The congregation was known as “Central Church” and “Tenth Street Church”. In 1909 it officially changed to “First Methodist Church. Legislators and other government officials worshiped here. The congregation mpved in 1923 to a new building at Lavaca and 12th Street. (1979)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Austin's Methodists organized in 1840, in the earliest days of the Republic's new capital, and by 1847 were worshiping near Congress and 4th Street. They bought this site in 1853 and built here under the Rev. John W. Phillips, replacing it with a larger sanctuary in 1883 under the Rev. A. E. Goodwyn. Known over the years as Central Church and Tenth Street Church — and drawing legislators and other officials to its pews — the congregation became First Methodist in 1909 and moved to Lavaca and 12th Street in 1923.
Why it matters
A downtown congregation that counted lawmakers among its worshipers, this church knit together the religious and governmental life of Texas's frontier-era capital.
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Related people
- · John W. Phillips
- · A. E. Goodwyn
Themes & tags
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