Site of the First Church Building in El Paso
El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On January 29, 1882, members of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South, first met in their new sanctuary at this site. Built under the leadership of the Rev. John R. Carter, it was a frame structure with arched windows and a 40-foot bell tower. Other churches competed for the honor, but Trinity's sanctuary was the first church building constructed in the city of El Paso. The church built a second sanctuary here before moving to a new site in 1906. The present name, Trinity First United Methodist Church, resulted from a 1979 merger with the First Methodist Church. 1982
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
On January 29, 1882, the congregation of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South, first gathered in a new frame sanctuary with arched windows and a 40-foot bell tower — the first church building erected in the young city of El Paso. Built under the Rev. John R. Carter, it beat out rival congregations for the honor. The church later raised a second sanctuary here before relocating in 1906.
Why it matters
It marks the arrival of settled religious and civic institutions in a booming frontier border city just as the railroads were transforming El Paso.
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Related people
- · Rev. John R. Carter
Themes & tags
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