First Sanctuary (1883)

First United Methodist Church was organized in the spring of 1881, closely following the development of the Presbyterian Church on February 27 and the founding of the city of Abilene on March 15. Though regarded as the second church of any denomination to be organized in Abilene, FUMC was the first congregation to begin construction of a church building in 1882 during the pastorate of Rev. George W. Riley (1881-82).

Prior to the construction of the first sanctuary, pioneer Methodists likely assembled for worship in tents (or other types of shelter used during the day) some time before the first railroad arrived. In the summer of 1881, a schoolhouse on North 3rd and Cedar became available for the church's public meetings.

On October 1, 1882, a church conference was held where it was reported that slow headway was being made on the new sanctuary due to a lack of construction workers in Abilene and across the state. As a result, the sanctuary was not complete until 1883 during the tenure of the church's second pastor, Rev. J.D. Scoggins (1882-83).

The sanctuary, built on a 90 X 120 foot lot, was a small white structure with a tall spire. It had a plain, steep roofed frame, an unsheltered double front door, and was topped by a Gothic arch. The door was flanked by slender arched windows, and had three matching windows along each side.

On August 2, 1883, the new sanctuary held its first church conference. One item of business was a request that the church be made a "station," (having a full-time pastor) with the offer to set the pastor's salary at $600 per year. That fall, the conference journal listed "Abilene Circuit" with one church, valued at $2,000.