Wesley United Methodist Church was originally the Wesley House Methodist Mission under the sponsorship of the First United Methodist Church of Athens. In 1965 the board of Stewards and Trustees of the First Methodist Church of Athens, Texas started the mission church in West Athens at the comer of Maple and Pearl. The Rev. Jack Owen of Murchison preached the first sermon of the Wesley House Mission at 9 a.m., Jan. 1, 1967. This was the culmination of a project, instigated by the Rev. H. Chad Murray of the Athens Methodist Church, which was begun early in 1966. The doors of the church were opened for the first time on January 15, 1967. Four people joining, one of whom was Mrs. DeWitt Owen, the date of her 91st  birthday. 

     Lots One and Two of the Blethen Addition were purchased on September 14, 1966 and Lot No. three on September 16, 1966. The church had the upper half of five small stained glass windows from the old Methodist Church. The church remained at this location until 1989 when the new church was built.

     During the years that the Church was in West Athens, there were many ministers and lay members whom served the needs of the church and congregation. The first minister to serve was the Rev. Jack Owen. During this time nineteen members were added to the church. The next minister was Rev. Jim Bankston of Malakoff. The Rev. Howard S. Ritchie who served until October of 1970 when the Rev. James Elbert was appointed to serve the Church followed him. Rev. Buford Finley was sent to serve next and he remained until the Rev. Randy Fitzgerald began his minister there on January 2, 1972. His brother Gary joined him in serving both Wesley and Crescent Heights. They both stayed until 1974 when the pastor was the Rev. Newman who stayed only a few months before leaving to do mission work in Puerto Rico. A lay preacher, Jerry Williams, served until the Rev. Cornelius arrived in June 1975. The Rev. Richard Palmer was assigned pastor by Dr. Bell in February, 1976.

     In May of 1969, the church was officially designated as a separate church and the 29 members were declared to be charter members. At a meeting of the members on May 18, 1969 the mission was named "Wesley United Methodist Church" by a unanimous vote of all members present.

     The church at 108 Maple in Athens was in a deteriorating area for several years. In order to better serve the purposes and obligations of the church, the congregation, under the leadership of the Rev. Richard Palmer, decided to relocate. After a long search for an affordable, suitable building ground, a site on FM 753 in South Athens was found and approved. It was purchased in January, 1989.

     Church building committee was selected. Chairman was Byrl Long. Members were: Farris Brown, Wiley Waters, Ethel Nelson and Jerry Carpenter. The Rev. Palmer was the advisor. Plans for a building, suitable for expansion were made by the committee and approved by the congregation. Richard Palmer Construction Company agreed to do the building.

     The Methodist District Committee made approval of building plans and Richard Palmer Construction Company on Church Location and Building.

     Building began July 1, 1989. It was done entirely by Richard Palmer Construction Company: Richard Palmer and son Ricky Palmer. Crewmembers were Ear! Osborne, Larry Holcomb, Fred Hanks, Craig Billings and Robert Thomas.  An outstanding job, far above normal quality was done by each of these men.  Chester "Doc" Jackson donated foundation dirt hauling.  Bill Adams donated the ground leveling and landscaping. 

     The first services in the new church were held  August 29, 1989.

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Rev. Jack Owen  1967

Rev. Jim Bankston   1968

Rev. Howard Richie   1969

Rev. James Filbert  1970

Rev. Buford Finley  1971

Rev. Randy Fitzgerald  1972 -  1974

Rev. William Newman  1974

Rev. Jerry Williams  1975

Rev. Cornelius  1975

Rev. Richard Palmer  - February 1976 - Present

Mrs. Hazel Mathis

Mrs. Ruth Blethen

Mrs. Wm. G. Barr

Mrs. Claude B. Maness

Miss. Lucille Harris

Miss. Jessie Nell Sweeten

Mr. Basil Sanders

Mr. Derden Matthews

Mr. B. D. Houge

Mrs. Floyd Smith

Mrs. Rebecca Torrez

Miss. Diana Lynn Torrez

Miss. Becky Torrez

Miss. Patty Torrez

Mr. Tom Grissom

Miss Mary Caldwell

Mrs. Johnnie Owens

Mrs. Ann Moss

Mrs. Carol Clark 

Marie Clark

Mr. W. C. Moore

Mrs. DeWitt Owen 

Mrs. W. C. Moore

Mrs. Lula Harris

Miss Abigail Torrez

Mrs. Murtie McCarley

Mrs. Basil Sanders 

Mrs. Emily Delhira Houge

Mr. Floyd Smith

Mr. A. G. Torrez

John F. Torrez

Miss. Nancy Torrez

Miss Calinda Torrez

Mrs. Mae Price

Mrs. Sally Grissom

Mr. Sam Topel 

Mr. Francis Brown

Mr. Wm. Clark

Tommy Clark