First Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Built between 1891 and 1893 at 410 E. University in Georgetown, this stone church follows a Greek Cross plan and is a Gothic Revival design. Its walls are rough-faced ashlar with dressed voussoirs and carved springstones in the lancet openings and buttresses. Large stained-glass lancet windows on the east and north sides have wood tracery and a roundel at the top. Pressed-tin spires cap the vestibules at the northwest and northeast corners. Dr. Robert S. Hyer, a physics professor at Southwestern, designed the building, and the Waterston family, who had come from the British Isles and had worked on the State Capitol in Austin, completed the stonework. The congregation was organized in 1874, soon after the university was established in Georgetown. A two-story educational wing added in 1930 echoes the original stonework and design. The church is valued mainly for its architecture and craftsmanship and remains in religious use in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of Gothic Revival architecture in Georgetown, especially noteworthy for its superb craftsmanship. The stonework was done by the Waterston family, who had worked on the State Capitol in Austin. The 1930 education wing closely matches the original design and is considered part of the church's architectural and historical evolution.
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 86001368, listed June 17, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 410 E. University, Georgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County |
| Listed | June 17, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001368 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Robert S. Hyer (designer); stonework by the Waterston family |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present condition is described as excellent, and the building is still in religious use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.63285, -97.67344 (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 86001368.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453273
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.