First United Methodist Church of Huntsville

Before 1842 Methodists in Huntsville were probably served by itinerant preachers on the Montgomery County circuit. The Texas Methodist Conference appointed The Rev. Henderson B. Palmer as first pastor of the Huntsville church in that year. Records from 1854 indicate 120 members on the roll, but no permanent church was constructed until 1857. The church purchased the land at this site in 1854, with the deed made out to trustees of the church D. J. Ransom, Thomas Gibbs, Robert Wynne, Williamson Wynne, Thomas Bowdre, and their successors. The first sanctuary was erected under the pastorate of The Rev. A. Davis. By 1888 a new building was needed, so the original was torn down and replaced with a larger one. A wooden structure was later added to the rear to provide room for Sunday School classes. In 1910 fire destroyed the church. Under the leadership of The Rev. E. W. Solomon a new building was begun, and was completed in 1913 during the pastorate of The Rev. R. W. Adams. Fire again damaged the church in 1918, and it was rebuilt the following year. Throughout its history, the First Methodist Church of Huntsville has provided significant service and leadership to the community.

First United Methodist Church of Huntsville is a historical marker in Huntsville, Walker County. It is one of 69 historical markers documented in Walker County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 110 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.7280, -95.5610 near Huntsville. The nearest cataloged historic site is Samuel Walker Houston Memorial Museum and Cultural Center (museum), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include St. James United Methodist Church of Huntsville, Eastham-Thomason House, and Gibbs-Powell Home.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5471008452. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.