First Methodist Church of Mesquite

In 1857, prior to the incorporation of the town of Mesquite, a group of area residents began gathering occasionally for Methodist worship services led by circuit riding preacher W. K. Masten. Services were held in a nearby building known variously as the Frost Schoolhouse or the Bennett Schoolhouse. By 1863, the group had organized formally as the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Services continued in the schoolhouse until 1880, when charter members John L. and Lucy Futrell deeded this land to the congregation for the construction of a church building. Soon a small wood-frame structure was erected. Later damaged by a storm, it was rebuilt in 1900. In 1887 when the town of Mesquite was incorporated, charter member J. E. Russell became the town's first mayor, and the downtown area began to develop near the church site. As the population of Mesquite increased, so did the congregation, and several progressively larger sanctuaries were built after 1916 to accommodate its growth. Because of denominational mergers, the congregation changed its name to the First Methodist Church of Mesquite in 1939, and to the First United Methodist Church of Mesquite in 1968.

First Methodist Church of Mesquite is a historical marker in Mesquite, Dallas County, dedicated in 1991. It is one of 352 historical markers documented in Dallas County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 574 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7690, -96.5989 near Mesquite. The nearest cataloged historic site is City of Mesquite (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Sam Bass Train Robbery, Holley-McWhorter-Greenhaw Family, and Public Education in Mesquite.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5113006700. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.