First Methodist Episcopal Church South, Old
Also known as: Site No. 735
Why it's listed
Located at 200 North Fulton Street in Wharton, this two-story brick church was built in 1927 in the Classical Revival style. It replaced earlier sanctuaries on the site: a frame church from after 1887 was destroyed by a hurricane in 1909, and a concrete block building erected in 1910 burned in 1925. The west facade has a three-bay pedimented portico with wooden colossal fluted Corinthian columns, and leaded art glass fills the large round-arched windows along the sides. A brick parapet hides the hipped roof, and a one-story classroom addition was made around 1940. The Methodist congregation used the building until 1972, when it was conveyed to the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, which still worships there. It was listed for its architecture, as the finest church building in Wharton and one of few brick churches in town predating 1942. The architect and builder are not identified.
Significance in brief: The building is presented as an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture and the finest ecclesiastical building in Wharton. It is also one of a few remaining brick churches in the town dating from before 1942, and it retains a high degree of integrity despite a later addition.
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 93000097, listed March 18, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 N. Fulton, Wharton |
|---|---|
| County | Wharton County |
| Listed | March 18, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000097 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a place of worship by the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, which received the building in 1972. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.31287, -96.09874 (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 93000097.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.