Picture the University United Methodist Church. It stands proudly near the University of Texas campus. Its story began not here but a block away at Honey Chapel. This small building was the humble start of the Austin City Mission in 1887. Rev John E Stovall led the first services. The congregation then moved to a larger building on Nueces and 24th streets. It was renamed Twenty-Fourth Street Church. Later it became Hotchkiss Memorial Church. The name honored Mr and Mrs W H Hotchkiss early members.
The present magnificent University United Methodist Church location was not always so grand. The land belonged to an eccentric University of Texas math professor. He lived in a house on stilts. Chickens roamed freely underneath. The cornerstone for the current church was laid in 1907. Architect Frederick M Mann designed the building. Its Richardsonian Romanesque style was unique for Austin. The use of native limestone and a Mediterranean red tile roof was unusual. This style influenced University of Texas campus buildings. The church’s first service in its current building was on May 23 1909.
The University United Methodist Church has not stood still. A second building the Wesley Bible Chair was added in 1924. It housed student activities and Sunday School classes. Sadly it was demolished in 1949. Heinsohn Hall replaced it. This building houses offices a childcare center and numerous classrooms. The 1950s saw major renovations. The Big Step program added air conditioning. Outdoor play areas were enclosed. The sanctuary’s pipe organ was also altered.
The University United Methodist Church’s name changed again in 1968. The merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church created the United Methodist Church. The church then became the University United Methodist Church. The 1970s brought a new Schantz pipe organ. It was much larger than the original. A new hymn God Is Here was commissioned. It is now used in many hymnals. The University United Methodist Church continues to grow and change. In the 1980s the choir toured England singing in prestigious cathedrals. Renovations continue to preserve this important Austin landmark. This church remains a vital part of the University of Texas community. It is a testament to faith and its enduring legacy. This is more than a church it is a living history lesson.