Site of Tenth Street Methodist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm gonna do it justice. Austin Methodists got organized back in 1840, and for a good while they made do, worshiping at Congress and 4th Street starting in 1847. But a congregation with ambition needs a home of its own, and in 1853 this very site was purchased.

A building was begun under the Rev. John W. Phillips, born 1821, gone by 1891, a man who set something in motion right here on Tenth Street.

Now, a foundation laid is just the beginning of a story, and this story kept growing. By 1883, the Rev. A.

E. Goodwyn, born 1818, still going strong until 1902, led the congregation in the construction of a larger sanctuary. Because when your flock keeps coming, you build bigger.

The congregation went by a couple of names over the years. Some called it Central Church. Some called it Tenth Street Church.

You know how a place earns more than one name, it tends to mean something. Legislators worshiped in those pews. Government officials came through those doors.

Austin's civic life had a pulse that beat right here on this spot. Then in 1909, the congregation made it official, and official is the word, changing the name to First Methodist Church. First.

No ambiguity left. And then, in 1923, they moved on, heading to a new building at Lavaca and 12th Street. The site stays.

The story stays. That's how it tends to go with places that mattered.

What the marker says

Austin Methodists organized in 1840 and began in 1847 worshiping at Congress and 4th Street. This site was purchased in 1853 and a building was begun under the Rev. John W. Phillips (1821-1891). In 1883, the Rev. A. E. Goodwyn (1818-1902) led in the construction of a larger sanctuary. The congregation was known as "Central Church" and "Tenth Street Church". In 1909 it officially changed to "First Methodist Church. Legislators and other government officials worshiped here. The congregation mpved in 1923 to a new building at Lavaca and 12th Street. (1979)