First United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Standing on the northwest corner of Hutchison and Fredericksburg streets in San Marcos, this white frame church was completed in 1893 in the Gothic Revival style. Its cruciform plan includes bayed transepts, steeply pitched gables with decorative bargeboards, finials, a circular stained glass window in the south gable, and a four-story bell tower with a pyramidal roof and spire. The congregation traces to 1847, when John D. Pitts organized the first Methodist church in his cabin, making it the first church organized in Hays County. Early members included Alfred B. F. Kerr, later the town's first mayor, and Edward Burleson, a former Vice President of the Republic of Texas. Earlier church buildings on this corner were lost to fire in 1868 and to poor construction, with walls torn down in 1891. Alterations since 1893 have been modest: a 1939 interior remodeling with memorial stained glass windows, an enclosed belfry, and a 1951 Fellowship Hall.
Significance in brief: The congregation was founded in 1847 alongside the town and was the first church organized in Hays County. Its early members included town founders and notable figures such as John D. Pitts, Alfred B. F. Kerr and Edward Burleson. The 1893 building is also considered a fine example of local nineteenth century architecture.
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 74002269, listed November 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 129 W. Hutchison, San Marcos |
|---|---|
| County | Hays County |
| Listed | November 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002269 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893 (19th Century) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (described as Victorian Gothic) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, unaltered, occupied and in religious use; few alterations in about 80 years, including 1939 interior remodeling and a 1951 Fellowship Hall addition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.88421, -97.94316 (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 74002269.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5454009
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.