Baytown, Harris County
This congregation was organized in 1844 at the home of early settler Hance Baker, under the direction of the Rev. robert Alexander, a noted Methodist missionary during Texas' frontier period. with twenty-seven members by its second meeting, the church held worship services in Baker's home until a log sanctuary was built near this site sometime after 1847. The Rev. L. S. Friend served as first pastor of the church, which originally was called Alexander Chapel for its founder. The church building became a gathering place for the small Cedar Bayou community, and camp meetings were held on the grounds each summer. In 1853, the only Sunday School in the district was held here, and the congregation's emphasis on Christian education has continued over the years. By the early 1900s the church had begun providing neighboring communities with Sunday School teachers and literature. Cedar Bayou United Methodist Church continues to reflect the ideals and traditions of its founders. With historic ties to Texas' years an an independent republic and to the beginning of Methodism in the state, it remains a significant element in the area's heritage.