
Travis Park United Methodist Church, San Antonio
Travis Park United Methodist Church stands as a historic and progressive beacon in the heart of San Antonio. Established in 1846 by Rev. John Wesley DeVilbiss, a missionary to the Republic of Texas, it is the city’s oldest Protestant congregation and the only Reconciling United Methodist Congregation in San Antonio. The church’s roots trace back to DeVilbiss’s groundbreaking efforts, including delivering the first Protestant sermon in San Antonio in 1844 and organizing a congregation two years later in the local courthouse.
The church moved to its current downtown location near Travis Park—San Antonio’s second-oldest park—20 years after its founding. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style, the church is adorned with intricate stained-glass windows, a double-aisled sanctuary, and majestic spires that have become architectural highlights of the city. Over the decades, additions and renovations, including significant work following a fire in 1955, have preserved and modernized this historic edifice.
Travis Park Church has played a pivotal role in the city’s cultural and spiritual life. In 1852, the congregation built Paine Chapel on Soledad Street, which later hosted the San Antonio Female College—an institution that eventually merged with others to form Trinity University in 1942. The church has also been home to many influential pastors, five of whom were elected bishops.
Grounded in its history, Travis Park United Methodist Church continues to embrace its mission of faith, service, and inclusivity. As a Reconciling Congregation, it prioritizes connection, hope, and truth, offering a welcoming space for all. The church’s archives, enriched by Josephine Forman’s historical work We Finish to Begin, reflect a legacy of resilience and community impact that continues to inspire its modern ministry.
The church moved to its current downtown location near Travis Park—San Antonio’s second-oldest park—20 years after its founding. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style, the church is adorned with intricate stained-glass windows, a double-aisled sanctuary, and majestic spires that have become architectural highlights of the city. Over the decades, additions and renovations, including significant work following a fire in 1955, have preserved and modernized this historic edifice.
Travis Park Church has played a pivotal role in the city’s cultural and spiritual life. In 1852, the congregation built Paine Chapel on Soledad Street, which later hosted the San Antonio Female College—an institution that eventually merged with others to form Trinity University in 1942. The church has also been home to many influential pastors, five of whom were elected bishops.
Grounded in its history, Travis Park United Methodist Church continues to embrace its mission of faith, service, and inclusivity. As a Reconciling Congregation, it prioritizes connection, hope, and truth, offering a welcoming space for all. The church’s archives, enriched by Josephine Forman’s historical work We Finish to Begin, reflect a legacy of resilience and community impact that continues to inspire its modern ministry.
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Travis Park United Methodist Church on Map






Sight Name: Travis Park United Methodist Church
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Religious
Walking Tours in San Antonio, Texas
Create Your Own Walk in San Antonio
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Antonio is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
River Walk Tour
The San Antonio River Walk (also known as Paseo del Río or simply The River Walk) is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of the city. A successful special-case pedestrian street, this walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting major tourist draws and attractions that add to its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
King William Historical District Tour
San Antonio’s first “suburb” and the very first historical district in Texas, revitalized during the 1960s, the King William District encompasses 25 blocks south of downtown and east of the San Antonio River.
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
San Antonio Introduction Walking Tour
San Antonio, one of Texas' major cities, boasts rich colonial heritage. The city was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13. At the time of European encounter, the area near the San Antonio River Valley was inhabited by Payaya Indians who called it Yanaguana, the "refreshing waters".
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles