Marvin Methodist Episcopal Church, South
historic place
Marvin Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Tyler, Texas, holds a significant place in Smith County's history. The congregation, the first church in the county, was organized in 1848 by Reverends Sam Box and Alexander Douglas. Early services were held in a log cabin on the Courthouse Square, then later in Adams blacksmith shop, south of the Square. In 1852, the church built a two-story structure across the street from its current location, in cooperation with the Masons. The present church building, erected in 1890, is now Tyler's oldest church. It was named in 1891 to honor Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin, a Confederate States Army Chaplain known for his sermons. The building underwent expansions in 1923, 1942, and 1952. The State Historical Survey Committee erected a historical marker in 1968, designating it a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. This site represents the enduring presence of the first organized church in Smith County.