Wesley United Methodist
This congregation’s beginnings can be traced
to a visit from Methodist pioneer Francis Asbury
to a gathering of farm families at the home of
Abraham Harris on September 24, 1779. A prominent
local landowner, Mr. Harris later conveyed a
substantial portion of the land upon which the
Town of Georgetown was built. For many years this
local Methodist “Society” met in the homes of
its members. In April 1802, the congregation
purchased a lot of land on West Pine Street,
just east of South Lane, where a frame house of
worship know as “Wesley Chapel” was erected.
After fire destroyed this structure, a second
building was constructed nearby on land purchased
in 1806 from John Russell. This site is now part
of the “old Methodist cemetery”.
On July 9, 1859, the growing congregation purchased
a lot of land on North Race Street, south of Cooper
Alley, for the site of a new church. The building
was completed and dedicated in 1865. By the 1890’s,
it was very evident that a larger sanctuary was
needed. Under the leadership of the Rev. Charles
A. Grise, the lot where the present church stands
was purchased in 1896. Construction of the
modified-gothic design building was completed the
following year. Church treasurer William J. McNatt
served as supervising architect, and John Barr
was the contractor. A formal dedication service
was held on March 7, 1897.
The adjoining parsonage was built in 1907. The Willie
M. Jones Memorial Hall was constructed in 1928,
and the Education Building in 1956-57.
Marker is on North Race Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
