First Methodist Church of Plano

According to oral history sources, this congregation traces its history to 1846 or 1847, when a group of thirteen people met together in the home of Peters' colonists Joseph and Elizabeth Russell to organize a Methodist church. The group was assisted by James A. Smith, a local preacher living near Dallas. They continued to meet at the Russell home until the 1850s, when they moved to a schoolhouse ion upper Spring Creek northwest of the original Plano townsite. Plano was incorporated in 1873, one year after the Houston & Texas Central Railroad built a line through the area. The Methodists moved to the new town in 1874. The congregation became a full station of the Methodist Church in 1888, with the Rev. D.J. Martin as first full-time pastor. They bought land at present 16th and K Streets in 1894 and completed a new building in 1895. It served the members until 1968 when a larger facility was built at this site. Throughout its history, the First Methodist Church of Plano has served the community with a variety of worship, educational, and outreach programs. It maintains a strong record of support to both domestic and foreign missionary endeavors. (1992) supplemental plate: In 2002 the First United Methodist Church moved to a new location at 3160 East Spring Creek Parkway for more visibility and to accommodate congregational growth.

First Methodist Church of Plano is a historical marker in Plano, Collin County, dedicated in 1992. It is one of 193 historical markers documented in Collin County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 345 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.0453, -96.6695 near Plano. The nearest cataloged historic site is Bowman Cemetery (historical marker), about 0.4 miles away. Others within a short drive include Muncey Massacre, Leach-Thomas Cemetery, and Plano Mutual Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5085006152. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.