Saint John's Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Saint John's Methodist Church, at 301 E. University in Georgetown, is a stone church completed in 1906 to designs by Austin architect C. H. Page, who also designed the Williamson County Courthouse. Its ashlar-cut stone walls, gable roof and two-story crenelated tower at the southwest corner reflect the Gothic Revival style. Pointed-arch stone hood molds top the window openings, which hold fixed stained-glass lights, and each gable carries a lancet window. The main entrance sits at the base of the tower, and a modern brick education wing stands at the rear. The congregation traces back to Swedish settlers who organized as early as 1871 near Union Hill, about three miles south of Georgetown. They built a frame church in 1882, abandoned when the Georgetown building opened in 1906. Services were held in Swedish until the late 1930s or early 1940s, and the church remains an important landmark for the area's Swedish community. It is in excellent condition and still used for worship.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a good example of Gothic Revival architecture in Georgetown, designed by the Austin architect who also designed the Williamson County Courthouse. It is also significant in ethnic history as an important landmark for the Swedish community of Georgetown and outlying areas, whose congregation held services in Swedish until the late 1930s or early 1940s.
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 86000950, listed April 29, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 301 E. University, Georgetown |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County |
| Listed | April 29, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000950 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | C. H. Page of Austin |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; still in religious use, with a modern brick education wing at the rear. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.63359, -97.67468 (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 86000950.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002606
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.