The First United Methodist Church was the first organized congregation in Racine and helped to establish the foundation of religion in Racine.

The organization of the church was in the Fall of 1836 when a pastor named Samuel Pillsbury was sent to the Root River Mission (Racine) as the first Methodist preacher regularly stationed there, who lived on the east side of Main St. near 7th street.

In 1842 the first church structure was built. In 1857 an addition is added to the building, and in 1870 they authorized purchase of a new site for a Gothic structure at 8th & Main, which was dedicated in July 1871. This is the current building on Main street.