First United Methodist Church of Belton

The First United Methodist Church in Belton shares its year of founding with Bell County in 1850. According to the Belton Journal, Bell County was still in swaddling clothes when the following deed was recorded: “This indenture made and entered into this 19^th day of November 1850 between the County Commissioners of Bell county in the State of Texas of the one first part, and Archibald T. McCorcle, William H. Fitchenal and James C. Williams, Trustees for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, second part, a gift to said Church Lot 3 in Block 16 of the town of Nolandville and these said Trustees, and their successors shall erect and build thereon a house of place of worship for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.”

Methodism had come to the area about 1846 through missionary work under the jurisdiction of the old Texas Conference. In the early days, a home in a grove of oak trees was the site where Methodists in and around Nolandville (now Belton) met for services conducted by the circuit rider, Rev. Gilmer. In 1854, the Cumberland Presbyterians built a frame church building on East Street which they allowed the Methodists to use one Sunday a month. Rev. Gilmer was succeeded by Rev. William H. Hubert at the end of 1854 when Belton became head of the circuit. Rev. Hubert performed the first church wedding in Belton uniting Miss Sarah Ann Carpenter and Mr. Sam Kegley on September 2, 1855. In 1855 Rev. John Carpenter was appointed to the Belton Circuit for 1856 and 1857. Because of unsettled conditions and rumors of war, the Belton Circuit was left unsupplied in 1858. A crude church was erected on the donated lot at Pearl and First Avenue and completed in the early 1860s. It was constructed of native rock and native hewn cedar and had a seating capacity of 300 people. For many years, it had no flooring and only puncheon seats. During the Civil War, the Belton church had no regular preacher until 1865 when Rev. John Carpenter was again assigned to the circuit. The church remained part of a circuit until 1869 when its own district was created.

Letters of one early circuit rider, James H. Addison, reveal both the joys and hardships faced by many early preachers. ““Took dinner at bro Blair’s, and in the afternoon rode to the little town of Nolensville (Belton). Here I found the whole town in a perfect stir, anxious to see and hear the new preacher—I found bro. A. McCorkle ready to receive me, bro Stickney too— The town was literally emptied, a very fine audience indeed. I tried to preach the best I could. I am very much in hopes we will be able to turn this little town upside-down…” In a subsequent letter, Addison confessed that he was less than cheerful “when my pockets are empty, and my clothes torn.” But it was at Nolensville during a meeting that some kind women observed his predicament and quickly sewed up some new pantaloons for the needy preacher.

In the early 1870s, a group of New York merchants presented a bell to the church in honor of local physician, Dr. John Embree. By the 1880s, church membership increased and outgrew the original building. A larger sanctuary was erected between 1884-1886 at East Street and Third Avenue under the leadership of Rev. W. L. Nelms. Built of locally made bricks with a native stone foundation, it featured Gothic-style detailing. The Embree bell was moved to a new steeple. Ornate metal finials gracing the pilasters stood ten-feet high, each surmounted with a small cross. Leaded stained-glass windows, a silver-plated baptismal font, and a silver-plated communion set completed the adornments. The new building was of such fine construction that it was often referred to as “the cathedral church of the Northwest Texas Conference.” A pipe organ was added in 1908 built by the firm of Henry Pilcher’s Sons of Louisville, Kentucky. It contained 1,093 pipes of metal or wood ranging in size from smaller than a pencil to over eight feet tall.

Over the years, repairs were made to the building. In 1925, the original church steeple was condemned and the top sixteen feet were removed. The metal finials were removed and discarded. The front entrance of the church was changed, and the original stained glass windows were replaced in 1950 when the church celebrated its centennial. Eleven families donated the stained glass windows as memorials which feature a symbolic design created especially for the church by Black Art Glass Company of San Antonio. In 1985 protective coverings were placed over the windows and additional renovations were completed. The building was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1978.

Belton First United Methodist Church. "Our Beginnings." https://www.fumcbelton.org/

Limmer, E. A., Jr. Story of Bell County, Texas. Austin, TX.: Eakin Press, 1988.

"Methodist Church, Started Here in November 1850, Shares Belton Centennial. Belton Journal, April 6, 1950.