First Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Gothic Revival design defines this frame church at 301 E. Courthouse in Cuero, built in 1886 by local contractor Z.A. Finck. The congregation had been organized in February 1876. A squared tower stands at the northwest corner, with a double-door entrance under a pointed-arch transom, a matching secondary entry at the northeast corner, and stained-glass windows in pointed-arch openings. The tower has a small rose window, triple arches on each elevation, finials at each corner and a pyramidal roof with finial caps. In 1929 the building was raised and reoriented, a basement was added and stucco was applied. Even so, it keeps its historic integrity and closely resembles its original appearance. It is regarded as Cuero's oldest surviving church and one of the best local examples of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture. It sits on a lot of less than an acre in a mostly residential area east of the central business district and remains in religious use in good condition.
Significance in brief: The church is Cuero's oldest surviving church and one of the best local examples of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture. Despite the 1929 changes, including stucco, a new basement and reorientation, it keeps its historic integrity and closely resembles its original appearance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88001952, listed October 31, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 E. Courthouse, Cuero |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | October 31, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001952 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Finck, Z.A. (1886), contractor |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival church |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; still in religious use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.09106, -97.28826 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88001952.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453271
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.