Houston Museum District in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Photographed By Jim Evans, November 9, 2012
1. St. Paul's United Methodist Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Paul's United Methodist Church. . At the beginning of the 20th century, members of Houston’s Methodist community worked toward organizing a new congregation on what was then the burgeoning south end of town. In December 1905, individuals met at the J.O. Ross family home and held Christmas Eve services at the city auditorium. The congregation officially organized on January 14, 1906 with 153 charter members. Bishop Joseph Key preached the first sermon and suggested the congregation adopt St. Paul’s as its name. The Ross family gave lots at the corner of Milam and McGowen streets for a new building. Designed by R.D. Steele and consecrated in January 1909. The structure reflected a Grecian design with a dome reminiscent of Byzantine architecture., The church grew along with the city of Houston, and in the late 1920s, members launched a campaign to raise money for new facilities. Jesse H. Jones, Walter Fondren and J.M. West, Sr. each contributed $150,000, and the church hired noted architect Alfred C. Finn to design a new building at the corner of Main and Binz streets. The Neo-Gothic styling features a cruciform plan on a steel-frame structure with limestone cladding. Stained glass windows from the previous church building were incorporated into the new structure, and the impressive tower houses bells also brought from the church’s original sanctuary., St. Paul’s church members support an array of outreach, worship, education, mission, music and caring services to the community. At the turn of the 21st century, the church is a spiritual and social community center, as well as a long-standing Houston institution.
At the beginning of the 20th century, members of Houston’s Methodist community worked toward organizing a new congregation on what was then the burgeoning south end of town. In December 1905, individuals met at the J.O. Ross family home and held Christmas Eve services at the city auditorium. The congregation officially organized on January 14, 1906 with 153 charter members. Bishop Joseph Key preached the first sermon and suggested the congregation adopt St. Paul’s as its name. The Ross family gave lots at the corner of Milam and McGowen streets for a new building. Designed by R.D. Steele and consecrated in January 1909. The structure reflected a Grecian design with a dome reminiscent of Byzantine architecture.
The church grew along with the city of Houston, and in the late 1920s, members launched a campaign to raise money for new facilities. Jesse H. Jones, Walter Fondren and J.M. West, Sr. each contributed $150,000, and the church hired noted architect Alfred C. Finn to design a new building at the corner of Main and Binz streets. The Neo-Gothic styling features a cruciform plan on a steel-frame structure with limestone cladding. Stained glass windows from the previous church building were incorporated into the new structure, and the impressive tower houses bells also brought from the church’s original sanctuary.
St.
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Paul’s church members support an array of outreach, worship, education, mission, music and caring services to the community. At the turn of the 21st century, the church is a spiritual and social community center, as well as a long-standing Houston institution.
Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13591.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1876.
Location. 29° 43.576′ N, 95° 23.336′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in the Houston Museum District. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Binz Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5501 Main Street, Houston TX 77004, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Located to the left of the main entrance.
Also see . . . St. Paul's Website. (Submitted on November 11, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
Photographed By Brian Anderson, November 2, 2018
3. St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Photographed By Jim Evans, November 9, 2012
4. St. Paul's United Methodist Church from the Side
Photographed By Jim Evans
5. St. Paul's United Methodist Church Partial Front
Photographed By Jim Evans, November 9, 2012
6. St. Paul's United Methodist Church Tower
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 765 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 11, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 3. submitted on November 4, 2018, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 11, 2012, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.