The congregation of Wesley United Methodist Church was established at the end of the Civil War for freed people in the Austin area. On March 4, 1865 the first official church meeting was held in the basement of the old Tenth Street M.E. Church, South, in Austin, Texas.
In the spring of 1882, the cornerstone of a new church was laid at the corner of Ninth and Neches Streets. The Wesley Chapel Church was referred to during that time as “Wesley on the Hill”, which by 19th century standards was an impressive edifice. In 1929, the church purchased a plot of ground facing Hackberry, Navasota, and San Bernard Streets, which is the location of the current sanctuary.
Wesley has developed a number of ministries in response to the spiritual needs of its members. Wesley’s interest in community and education dates back to its beginning when for several years, Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson College) held most of its classes in the Church. Wesley continues to hold an important place in the civic life of the Austin Community, being instrumental in the establishment of the Austin Area Urban League and in numerous ventures with the Austin Independent School District to assist African American students.
Evident to its rich history, in 1985 the National Register of Historic Places recognized Wesley as a National Site. Wesley will continue to be a beacon of hope in the community, and is committed to nurturing the spiritual growth of the congregation as we enter the 21st century.
- Click here to download additional church history (A GENERAL HISTORICAL STATEMENT)
- To become involved in documenting, reporting and preserving the church history, please contact Arlene Youngblood.
