An easily recognized landmark of the San Marcos skyline is the Carpenter Gothic sanctuary of First United Methodist Church.

The sanctuary was built in 1893, but the congregation dates back to 1847 in the earliest days of the city of San Marcos.

First United Methodist Church's historic 1893 sanctuary served as the architectural inspiration for the Old Main building at Texas State University.

After meeting at the Pitts home for two years, the congregation moved their services to a public building, used as a school, courthouse, church, and community hall.

In 1855, the Methodist congregation joined with the Masonic Order to construct a two-story frame building on this site.

In 1891, only 19 years after the brick church was built, the building developed serious cracks (probably due to an underground fault) and had to be torn down.

About that same time, the level floor of the church was made to slope to give people in the back of the sanctuary a better view.

Additional lights were added to the sanctuary to highlight the choir, and the pipe organ façade was removed for restoration and repainting.