St. John's United Methodist Church
Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas
Marker Inscription
While Methodist missionaries had served the Richmond area as early as 1824, this congregation was organized January 22, 1839, by the Rev. Jesse Hord. Early members included some of Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" colonists. The congregation built this red brick sanctuary in 1922. Designed by C. N. Nelson of Houston, the Gothic revival building features white terra cotta trim and modified Tudor Gothic arches. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1983
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Methodist missionaries reached the Richmond area in the 1820s, when this stretch of the Brazos River was the frontier of Stephen F. Austin's colony, and the congregation formally organized in 1839 under the Rev. Jesse Hord. Its early rolls included members of Austin's famous "Old 300" — the first Anglo-American families to settle Texas under Mexican rule. The handsome Gothic revival brick sanctuary that stands today was built in 1922.
Why it matters
The congregation links directly to the Old 300 colonists whose settlement began the Anglo-American transformation of Texas, one of the pivotal chapters of westward expansion.
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Related people
- · Rev. Jesse Hord
- · Stephen F. Austin
- · C. N. Nelson
Themes & tags
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