Congregation dates back to Georgetown's earliest days

March 9 marks 120 years since the cornerstone was laid for First United Methodist Church, but the church's presence in Georgetown extends back even further.

Shortly after Georgetown's own inception in 1848, the Annual Texas Conference instructed James W. Lloyd to organize Georgetown Mission Church in 1849, according to a history of the church by local historian Clara Scarbrough.

The fledgling congregation was served by traveling circuit preachers and did not have a meeting place of its own until 1874, when the trustees of the school that would become Southwestern University agreed to let the congregation meet in the university's chapel.

Southwestern University's original building was located where Williams Elementary School currently stands in the 500 block of East University Avenue. The church's first full-time pastor, James Campbell, was a Southwestern graduate and began leading the congregation in 1879, according to a Texas Historical Marker.

The Methodist church then built a chapel to meet in on Southwestern's property in 1882.

After about nine years, the congregation decided to build again, this time at the church's current location on University Avenue. Construction lasted from 1891–93 and would cost about $25,000, according to Scarbrough.

The building is covered in native limestone and is constructed in the Gothic Revival style. Robert S. Hyer, a Southwestern professor of physics, designed the building.

Stained-glass windows were installed in June 1893, and the formal dedication of the church took place in 1896.

In 1930, a religious education building was built along the west wall of the church. The three-story building also included a basement and contained meeting and classroom space as well as a kitchen.

"That was quite a thing to do because it was in the depths of the Depression," said Dr. Doug Benold, who has been a member of the church since 1934. "It took them awhile to get it paid off."

During the 1950s, the church completed a restoration and renovation project that included modifications in the sanctuary and education building, and the stained-glass windows were also restored in the 1970s.

The 1970s and 1980s marked a time of growth for the church, so plans were made to expand again. Benold said Tom Graves was the pastor from 1970–78.

"He was a very popular pastor, and the town was beginning to grow," Benold said.

To keep pace with the increased membership, construction began in 1986 on the Genevieve Atkin Educational Activities Building.

Further growth necessitated a remodel of the 1930s education building as well as 6,800 more square feet in two stories, a covered driveway and covered walkway on the south side of the building in 1994.

In 2006, construction was finished on the Eric McKinney Center, which is located directly across Ash Street from the church. Now headed by Pastor Steve Langford, First United Methodist Church has 2,373 people on its membership rolls, according to its 2011 end of year report.

First United Methodist Church, 410 E. University Ave., 863-2370, www.fumcgt.org