First United Methodist Church of Caldwell. Congregation, organized 1840, is one of the oldest in Texas. It was one of 12 appointments on Nashville Circuit, Galveston District, Republic of Texas. Early worship was in various temporary structures. Here, in 1841, the Republic gave this church a beautiful grove as a building site. Caldwell became a circuit in 1852; the first church building was erected in 1854. Becoming an "independent station" in 1889, Caldwell built a new church and hosted Texas Methodist Conference in 1890. Present building was erected in 1927 on historic site of 1841. #8630