First United Methodist Church of Austin: A Historical Overview
historical marker
The First United Methodist Church of Austin, in Travis County, Texas, began in 1840. Reverend John Haynie founded the fellowship with fourteen members. Early services were held at temporary sites, including the Capitol building of the Republic of Texas. In 1847, the congregation completed its first wooden church at Congress Avenue and 4th Street. This site is notable: thirty-five doctors met there in 1853 to organize the Texas Medical Association. The current neoclassical building, at its present location, had its basement built in 1923 and the sanctuary completed in 1928. The Texas Historical Commission erected a marker for the church in 1978. This church is recognized as Austin's second oldest Protestant congregation.