Right here, in front of us, stands a bronze plaque commemorating the First Methodist Church of Mesquite. This simple marker, etched with a chronological account, holds the secrets of a community’s enduring faith, nestled in the heart of Texas.
The tale begins in 1857. Before Mesquite was even a town, a group of residents gathered for Methodist services led by a circuit-riding preacher named W. K. Masten. They made do with a nearby schoolhouse, alternately known as the Frost Schoolhouse or the Bennett Schoolhouse. They formally organized as the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1863, still worshipping in the schoolhouse.
In 1880, the congregation was gifted land by charter members, John L. and Lucy Futrell. Their generosity enabled the construction of a small wooden church. However, a storm damaged the little church and in 1900, it was rebuilt.
It was the year 1887, when the town of Mesquite was officially incorporated. One of the charter members, a man named J. E. Russell, became the first mayor, a testament to the church’s influence in the community. As Mesquite grew, so did the congregation, and several larger sanctuaries were built after 1916 to accommodate its expanding, faithful flock.
The congregation was formally named First Methodist Church of Mesquite in 1939. It then received its final name, First United Methodist Church of Mesquite, after denominational mergers in 1968.
Gazing at this plaque, we are not just looking at a piece of metal. We’re looking at the heart of Mesquite’s history, the essence of a community’s spirit. From humble beginnings in a schoolhouse to a name that represents unity, the First United Methodist Church of Mesquite is a legacy of faith, perseverance, and community.