A Texas Historical Marker stands near the entry, and provides some background of the church in earlier times:
This congregation traces its history to the 1850s, when several Methodist families moved to this area of Collin County. Early worship services were conducted in the homes of the William Spurgin and Mark L. Morris families. The Spurgin home, located about 2 miles northwest of present Wylie, became known as Spurgin Chapel. By 1873 a one-room log building known as Liberty Chapel was constructed to serve as both church and school. It was replaced in 1897 by a new building named St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Settlers in the pioneer community of Nickleville (later renamed Wylie) held worship services in a schoolhouse built by William H. Lee. By 1887, land was purchased for a new sanctuary and the first Wylie Methodist church was built. It was replaced by a brick structure at this site in 1924.
Served in its early years by circuit-riding ministers, including the Rev. Jacob B. Minnis, Wylie United Methodist Church has been a part of Collin County history for more than a century. The St. Paul Methodist Congregation merged with Wylie Methodist in 1946, and together the members continue to serve the community with a variety of programs. (1994)
A history of the church, from its website, brings the information from the marker up to date: (
visit link)
In the 1850’s, the early Methodist families in the Wylie area held services in the homes of Mark L. Morris and William Spurgin. Later they were held in the Lee schoolhouse, built by William H. Lee prior to the Civil War. In 1875, land was bought from Mr. Lee for $10 for the construction of a church and school building, yet it continued to be referred to as the Lee Schoolhouse.
A proper church, called the Methodist Episcopal Church South of Wylie, was finally built on S. Ballard Street in 1887, under the leadership of Rev. J.W. Lively. Twenty-four ministers served in this white frame building over the next thirty-seven years.
In 1924, Wylie United Methodist Church built a sanctuary on the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets, with over 100 Methodists transferring to their new church home for worship and fellowship. A bell was placed on a pedestal and rung every Sunday by the Sunday School Superintendent, David Click. This bell now sits on the south side of our present building.
In 1946, St. Paul Methodist members merged with the Wylie United Methodist Church, moving their building next door to WUMC to serve as an annex to the church. An Educational Building was constructed in 1969, containing Sunday School classrooms, nursery, kitchen, fireside room and a fellowship hall. Ground was broken for an Administration Building in 1984 (actually the old St. Paul Methodist Church site), with Rev. Glyn Rives as the minister.
In 1996, under the leadership of Rev. John Thornton, it was decided to relocate the church building to a site that addressed the growth of Wylie, and offered room to accommodate the needs of the church for many years. In 1999, land was purchased at the corner of McMillen and Country Club Dr. (FM 1378). The building at Jefferson and Jackson was sold to Wylie Bible Church and the congregation worshipped at Dodd Elementary while the first phase of the new facility, the 30,000 square foot Multi-Purpose building, was being built. On December 15, 2002, the first worship service was held in the beautiful new building, which could hold 550 people for worship.
In June 2004, Rev. Jack Wallace, became the Senior Pastor of the church.
In March 2008, Rev. Kathryn Strempke was welcomed as the Senior Pastor.