The following historical note was scanned from the Hood County Genealogical Society Newsletter No. 12; Editor: Merle McNeese November 1986
HISTORY OF THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH OF GRANBURY
Contributed by Tommye Hiler
Organized in 1873
The Granbury Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized in Granbury in 1873, by the Reverend J. R. Hill with seven members.
Originally, services were held at the school house on the third Sunday in each month. Captain and Mrs. J. R. Morris, Mrs. Kay Gordon, Mrs. J. B. Daniels, and Mr. & Mrs. D. Z. Nutt were among the charter members.
The first church was built in 1883, and it was the first church of any denomination to be built in Granbury. It was a frame building and was located in the 200 block of East Pearl Street.
Under the leadership of Reverend A. D. McGuire, the second building was built in 1913. It was built mainly of rock that had been part of the Granbury Methodist College building. The membership by then had grown to 420.
In 1939, the name was changed to First Methodist Church. The educational building was added in 1952, under the leadership of the Reverend Plez Todd, and the present sanctuary was built in 1965, while the Reverend Jack Riley was pastor. Then in 1968 the name was changed to First United Methodist Church.
Some of the earlier pastors were the Reverends Charlie Morton, John Boreus, H. C. Hilburn, E. V. Cox, J. B. Curry, E. P. Swin- dall, P. L. Shuler, B. L. McCord, Homer Cox, I. E. Hightower, and B. A. Evans.
The bell that hangs in the bell tower today of the Methodist Church on the Square is the same bell that hung in the bell tower of the original church building.
The first parsonage was located at 404 West Bridge Street. The house still stands today; it has a sign “Dormitory” on the front. This was the girls dormitory from the Granbury Methodist College that was moved to the Bridge Street address after the college had closed, or maybe before when students no longer used it. The top floor was cut off and a new roof put on.
In 1967, a new parsonage was bought at 802 Elizabeth. Then in 1972, the present parsonage was built at 501 S. Raupe St.
Ministers have been: Rev. J.R. Hill, the first pastor and organizer, Rev. 0.R. Addison, Rev. J.F. Jones, 1879, W.D. Robinson, 1879-1855, Rev. William Price, 1885-1891, Rev. T.W. Robers, 1891-1892, Rev. J.S. Barcus, 1892-1895, Rev. A.C. Evans, 1895-1897, Rev. J.W. Adkisson, 1897-?, Rev. S.L. Terry, 1906-1910, Rev. W.C. Hilburn, 1910-1912, Rev. D.A. McGuire, 1912-1917, Rev. C.N. Morton, 1915-1915, Rev. P.E. Riley, 1915-1917, Rev. W. N. Curry, 1917-192~, Rev. E. P. Swindall, 1922-1924, Rev. P. Shuler, 1924-1926, Rev. C.E. Simpson, 1926-1927, Rev. R.A. Walker, 1927-1929, Rev. I.E. Hightower, 1929-1951, Rev. W.J. Hearen, 1971-1992, Rev. E.H. Maddox, 1932-1977, Rev. T.D. Ellis, 1953-1935, Rev. C.O. Hightower, 1935-1976, Rev. B.L. McCord. 1978.