Our History 

• For 132 years this congregation has generously given its prayers, presence, gifts, and service, to make the First United Methodist Church a moral, cultural, and educational part of the community. The congregation is extremely proud of its history and is excited about the current and future possibilities as we serve Jesus Christ in this community.

• In 1871 , the Rev. J. R. Hill and seven members organized the Granbury Methodist Episcopal Church South. In the earliest years, the congregation met on the third Sunday of each month in the local schoolhouse. Charter members of the church included prominent citizens of Granbury: Mrs. J.B. Daniels, Mrs. Susie Gordon, Captain and Mrs. J.R. Morris, and Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Nutt.

• In 1883 , the congregation’s first church building was completed on the present church property. This frame structure was the first permanent building for any Granbury denomination.

• In 1909 , Trustees bought two lots, upon which the church stands today, from Baker Hardware and Implement Company for $2,000 cash.

• In 1913 , under the leadership of Rev. A.D. McGuire, the congregation built and occupied a second new structure at the corner of South Crockett and East Pearl Street. At this time, membership had grown from the charter seven to 420. The new structure was built using rock from the Granbury Methodist College building that had been moved to Weatherford the previous year. The stone church had 16 stained glass windows, some of which are still present in our current facility. The sanctuary boasted three entrances, and a cornerstone including historical items is still resting today in the present facility.

• In 1939 , the name of the congregation was changed to Granbury First Methodist Church.

• In 1952 , during the pastorship of Rev. Plez Todd the Education Building was erected on the site of the 1913 sanctuary.

• In 1965 , the present sanctuary was constructed at a cost of $65,000 and was designed to seat 325 persons. During the time of building, services were held in the Fellowship Hall. The bell heard ringing on Sunday mornings in the current sanctuary’s bell tower is the same that hung in the bell tower of the 1913 sanctuary. It was originally the bell from the Methodist College.

• In 1965 , Granbury Methodist Church entered into a parish program consisting of four Methodist Churches: Acton, Granbury, Temple Hall, and Tolar. A pastor and associate pastor were appointed to the parish and the workload was divided between the two men. The pastor would preach at Granbury Methodist every Sunday at 11, while the associate preached at Tolar. The two preachers alternated each month to preach at Acton and Temple Hall Methodist at 9:30 AM each Sunday. Granbury provided the parsonage for the pastor, while Tolar provided a parsonage for the associate pastor. In 1972, Granbury became a single church appointment, as it is today.

• In 1966 and 1969 , the church bought four lots adjacent to the church. These lots served as parking on the east side of the building. Prior to that time, the church had only one row of parking lots adjacent to the building.

• In 1968 , the Evangelical United Brethren denomination and the Methodist denomination merged nation wide. This resulted in the third name change to First United Methodist Church, as the church is known today.

• In 1977 , property, including a Quonset hut, was acquired for $55,000. Numerous volunteers supplied a major portion of the renovation labor. The Friendship Hut, as the building became known, was in continual use by both the congregation and the community.

• In 1982 , the Robertson home on South Crockett Street and three adjacent lots were acquired for adult Sunday school education space. At that time, attendance had grown to 265 in worship with a membership of 835.

• In 1990 , a 10,420 square foot two story building was added. The new facility added six adult Sunday School Classes, five offices, a workroom, three kitchenettes, four restrooms, storage areas, and two stairwells. Church business offices and adult classes moved to the new building. The annex became the Youth Activities Center, and the former Youth Activities Center became the Scout Hut. The educational building was also remodeled.

• In 1992 , an elevator was added to the educational facility and the church membership was 1,071.

• In 1995 , a Texas Historical Marker was unveiled at the front entrance of our church building.

• In 1998 , the church received a Methodist Historical marker for having been established for over 120 years.

• In 1999 , the Quonset hut was torn down due to the need for additional parking on Sunday morning. The annex building was also torn down and a Family Life Center was built. This building, at a cost of 1.6 million dollars has adequate space for Christian education, worship, and church family gatherings with a well-equipped commercial kitchen. Our youth, children’s Sunday school, and Kid’s Day Out program utilize this building.

• In 2001 , the church began to utilize the Family Life Center as a worship space for two services.

• In 2002 , the First United Methodist Church made a positive decision to build a new campus off of the historic town square in order to accommodate more growth, and a vision for the future ministry at FUMC Granbury. Obtaining 30 acres of land just two miles from the present facility helped make a dream a reality for the current membership of over 1,500.