A Rich History

Marvin United Methodist Church was established in 1848, and is the oldest congregation in Tyler and Smith County. The church has a rich, fascinating history.

In 1846, when the City of Tyler was first formed, citizens met for community worship. In the early spring of 1848, lay preachers and Methodist citizens organized the first denominational church in Tyler, which met in Adams Blacksmith Shop. In June of 1848, they purchased a lot on Bois d'Arc Street, and in 1852 constructed a place of worship for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This building, a two-story structure, was erected in front of our present location, and was shared with the Masonic Lodge, which used the second floor. The building was used as a hospital during the Civil War.

By 1888, the church building was in disrepair, and members decided a new sanctuary should be built. The lot at the corner of Bois d'Arc and Erwin Streets was purchased. The new sanctuary was constructed in 1890 and 1891. In June of 1890, the cornerstone was laid in an appropriate ceremony, and documents were placed in a vault of posterity. (In 1990, the vault could not be located and the contents and whereabouts of the vault are still a mystery.) The new church was named Marvin Methodist Church in 1891 in honor of Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin, a Confederate States of America chaplain whose powerful sermons and ministry impressed all of East Texas.

During the next few years, the church faced financial difficulties. In 1896, church property was scheduled for auction sale for nonpayment of past due note balances. Kettie L. Douglas Sample bought the property and rented it to church members. By 1899, church members had repaid Mrs. Sample and reclaimed title to the property.

The first addition to the sanctuary was constructed in 1923, when a three-story educational building was erected to house an increased church school attendance. While the sanctuary was extensively renovated in 1942, services were held in the Tyler Theater. The chapel, cloistered walkways, kitchen, office space and additional educational facilities were added in 1952. The Family Ministries Center was completed in 1986. In 1998, the congregation undertook "Renewing God's House," and through this fund-raising project, maintained and improved many aspects of the church, including building a third floor for youth, new music suites and new nurseries.

Marvin and First Baptist Churches celebrated 150 years of ministry together with a patriotic celebration on June 28, 1998. Congregations worshiped together, choirs sang together, the children presented a patriotic parade and the evening was topped off with a delicious cookout.

The story of this great downtown church is one of vision and hope, perseverance and prayer, labor and sacrifice, courage and strength. Let us uphold the tradition.

Click here for a pictoral history of Marvin United Methodist Church.

Dates of Interest in Marvin's Hisory

1852 - Barn-like structure built with St. John's Masonic Lodge; the church used the lower floor for worship and the lodge met on the upper floor

1864 (near the end of the Civil War) - the church building was used as a hospital for the Confederacy

late 1880s - Marvin was used for the graduating exercises of the first and second classes of Tyler High School

1888 - winds caused the bottom floor of the church to collapse a few inches during a large gathering, pointing out the need for a new structure

August 1890 - groundbreaking for the new church building, with Mrs. J. R. Bonner and Mrs. M. B. Adams turning the first shovels

Sept. 18, 1890 - cornerstone for current church placed

June 30, 1891 - church name formally changed to Marvin Methodist Church

June 1 and 2, 1897 - eight women led by Mrs. M. B. Adams fasted and prayed for the church to be saved

Jan. 4, 1898 - Marvin Church was sold at foreclosure to Mrs. Kettie Dample for $9,500. The congregation then rented the church property.

Dec. 8, 1899 - church debt paid

1923 - educational building added ($36,604)

1910 - Sunday School enrollment of 500 is the largest in Texas

1928 - Friendly Bible Class begins

1931 - Friendly Class radio broadcasts begin

Feb. 14, 1937 - all church debts paid; property valued at $200,000

1941 - Sanctuary and educational building rebuilt and decorated, organ pipes were covered and a center aisle constructed for brides; church services held in the Tyler Theater during construction

June 21, 1942 - grand opening for remodeled sanctuary and church building, cost of $100,000

Jan. 7, 1945 - many soldiers visited from Camp Fannin

1951 - chapel, educational building, kitchen and office spaces added

Oct. 14, 1956 - church bell from 1880 returned to the church after serving as a fire bell

February 1962 - Marvin helps build Methodist Student Center at Tyler Junior College

Feb. 17, 1963 - Marvin library completed

April 22, 1976 - new organ with 3,000 pipes installed in the sanctuary

June 8, 1980 - new pew cushions installed in the sanctuary

Dec. 6, 1981 - first Hanging of the Greens service and first year of Christmas Music Downtown

1984 - Family Ministries Center built

March 17, 1985 - Marvin Church identified as Tyler Historic Landmark

April 18, 1985 - Grownups organized through Family Ministries

March 29, 1987 - communion rail needlepoint cushions dedicated

April 26, 1987 - Family Ministries Center opened

Oct. 11, 1987 - first service broadcast on television

Feb. 12, 1991 - Marvin Menders organized to do repair work

Aug. 4, 1992 - pipe organ (circa 1892) from a convent in Boston, Massachusetts, was installed in the chapel at a cost of about $120,000

June 28, 1998 - Marvin and First Baptist Churches have joint celebration of 150 years of ministry

2001 - Existing facilities renovated and third floor added for youth