First United Methodist Church of Gainesville

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville, right there in Cooke County. Now settle in, because this congregation has been around long enough to have some stories worth telling. We're going back to 1852, when this church first came together, and I want you to picture what that looked like.

No grand sanctuary, no stained glass catching the afternoon light. No, this congregation shared its first meeting place with two other denominations and the Masonic Lodge. Four different groups, one roof, presumably taking turns and minding their manners.

That is either a testament to community spirit or a scheduling challenge for the ages. Probably both. Now, things got a little more settled in 1878, when a frame church building went up right on this very property.

The land itself was donated by a man named James M. Lindsay, and that frame church was a real step forward for a congregation that had been sharing space since before the Civil War. But even that wasn't the end of the story.

The congregation had bigger things in mind. In 1892, they broke ground on the sanctuary that still stands today. A contractor by the name of John Garrett built it, and when they dedicated it in 1893, Gainesville had something genuinely worth stopping for.

Red brick. Gothic Revival style. And then there are those windows.

Art Nouveau stained glass, described right on the marker as outstanding, and I'll tell you, that word doesn't get thrown around lightly on a historical marker. The building kept growing with the congregation. In 1965, an education building was added to the complex.

So what you have here is a story that begins with four groups crowded under one roof in 1852, and ends with a red brick Gothic sanctuary full of extraordinary glass, still standing, still serving. Some things, it turns out, are worth building slowly and building right.

What the marker says

Formed in 1852, this congregation shared its first meeting place with two other denominations and the Masonic Lodge. A frame church building was erected in 1878 on this property, donated by James M. Lindsay. The present sanctuary, built by contractor John Garrett, was begun in 1892 and dedicated in 1893. The red brick, Gothic Revival style structure features outstanding Art Nouveau stained glass windows. In 1965 an education building was added. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1976.