Biography

Palmetto United Methodist Church (Palmetto, La.) is located at Taylor Street, Palmetto, Louisiana.

In 1905, a group of local families joined together to purchase 3 small parcels of property. Upon this land, the first church of the community was constructed. The trustees at that time were Robert G. Hawkins, John Beard, Robert L. Hawkins, George McDaniel, and Alvin Deloach. The purchase price was 3 dollars. It was stipulated in the deal that no part of the land was to be used for burial purposes. The land was purchased from Sallie Hawkins, Mary Stokes, and Robert Lee Hawkins. Shortly thereafter, a church was built on the property. The building faced Church St. (now Carrie Mac Street, named after a devoted worker in the Methodist Church). It was a single room, shotgun style structure with windows on the west and east walls. It also had a church bell. Guest pastors held services from 1905 to 1914. The first appointed pastor to the church was Rev. J. P. Porter (1914-15).

In 1943, the congregation wanted to build a larger church, so they traded the church property for a new parcel of land owned by James A. Neal. The old church was dismantled and used in the building of the new church. The new church, which faced Taylor St., was 30 ft. by 70 ft. with a steeple (which contained the church bell). Sunday School rooms were on each side of the foyer. The fellowship hall was separated from the other end of the sanctuary by a partition wall. The pine pews were built by members of the church.

In 1960, the church was repaired. This included taking the steeple down and placing the bell on a steel frame in the church yard. The foyer and two Sunday School rooms were removed to enlarge the sanctuary. In 1985, vinyl siding was added. In 1987, the sanctuary was carpeted. In 1990, new pews and altar furniture were purchased and a small kitchen area was added. In 1993, the parking lot was paved.

The church parsonage was built in the late 1950s. The brick structure serves as home and office and is shared by the Palmetto and Melville churches.

Palmetto United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in 2023.

Source: Timothy Hebert, “The Historical Register of the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church,” (Louisiana: Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, 2004), page AC-38.

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