First United Methodist Church

In 1886, Tulsa was a rowdy frontier cattle town in Indian Territory when a hardy group of settlers started a Methodist Episcopal Church in 1886. Twenty-one charter members gathered for worship in a downtown open-air brush arbor. Within 35 years, the congregation had built and outgrown two church buildings. In 1921 the congregation moved to its present location. In 1928 the Cathedral Sanctuary building was dedicated.

There would be good times and hard times ahead—oil booms and oil busts, world outreach and world wars, great revivals and the Great Depression. United as a congregation, the people of First Methodist grew stronger and deeper in their faith as they weathered the hard times together. The good times helped energize growth with an actively committed membership under strong Godly leaders.

First United Methodist Church is grateful for a rich heritage rooted in a faithful God and His faithful people. Passionately engaged in life transformation in the church, in the community, and around the world, we are excited about the future as we follow Christ where He leads on this faith-filled adventure.