First United Methodist Church of Bishop

The Rev. Alton T. White, pastor at nearby Calallen, met with Methodists in the Bishop town hall to organize a Methodist Episcopal Church on November 12, 1911. Mrs. B. G. Bishop, Mrs. J. B. Butts, J. H. Herron, Mrs. Althea McClane, Mr. and Mrs. Reinhold Moser, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Starrett, and Maude and Blanche Starrett were among the charter members. The congregation received the Rev. P. L. Pyle as its first pastor. In 1912, with fewer than 50 members, they set up a building program with L. E. Appleby, Mrs. F. Z. Bishop, J. H. Herron and R. Moser as the building committee. Though city founder F. Z. Bishop gave town lots for each denomination, the building committee agreed that the designated Methodist church lot was too far from the central business district. They exchanged the land for lots just south of Main Street. The groundbreaking took place in December 1912. The church was free of debt within nine years despite the ravages of drought and hurricane. A new building fund committee began its work in 1952. Two years later, church trustees bought a block of property facing Sixth Street on the north side. A large part of the land was a gift from church members in honor of their parents. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on October 27, 1955. The erection of the new edifice took more than a year to complete and included a sanctuary with a seating capacity of more than 400. By the end of 1966, membership had reached 586. The new building was declared free of debt and dedicated on December 14, 1969. The First United Methodist Church of Bishop continues in the traditions of its founders with programs of service and worship. (2000)

First United Methodist Church of Bishop is a historical marker in Bishop, Nueces County, dedicated in 1999. It is one of 105 historical markers documented in Nueces County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 147 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 27.5799, -97.7913 near Bishop. The nearest cataloged historic site is St. Paul Lutheran Church and School (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Restland Memory Park, Bishop, and Bishop #3.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5355012127. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.