Kentwood United Methodist Church (Kentwood, La.)
Biography
Kentwood United Methodist Church was located at 305 Avenue F, Kentwood, Louisiana.
The first signs of religious activity in Kentwood date back to 1889, when general religious meetings were held in a school built that year. The Kentwood Methodist Episcopal Church, South was organized as a charge on the Amite Circuit in 1892. Fred Woolver donated a lot for the church on December 1, 1892, though the building wasn't finished until 1896, under the leadership of Rev. S. S. Keener. It was Rev. Keener who organized the building fund. The local paper recalls that the church was raised on August 29, 1896. The steeple contained a 500-pound bell that had been ordered by Mayor Ball and Dr. Reeves. The steeple was later (early 1930s) removed due to deteriorating lumber and the weight of the bell. The dedication service for the church was led by Rev. Harry W. May on November 19, 1899. The charter for the church was drawn up on November 11, 1907.
The church experienced rapid growth in those early years. In one quarter of 1905, the records show that the preacher was paid the sum of $16.45. Only 2 years later, the pastor was paid $231.45 for a quarter. By 1913, church membership was up to 600. A Sunday school was organized on October 31, 1896, with P. J. Whitley as Superintendent. The first parsonage was built in 1902. It was replaced in 1962 when the present parsonage was purchased. The present educational building was built when Rev. A. G. Taylor was pastor and was dedicated on January 13, 1951. The church was remodeled in the late 1950s. This included refinishing the interior, building a slender spire, installing air conditioning and heating, and veneering the exterior with brick. The work was completed in 1959 and dedicated in 1963.
Kentwood United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist in November 2022.
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 BR-40.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Kentwood United Methodist Church (Kentwood, La.) records
This collection documents the activities of Kentwood United Methodist Church (Kentwood, La.). The collection includes membership records, charge conference records, articles of incorporation, administrative council records, administrative records, and a pastor history. The administrative council records from 1994-1997 include charge conference records from 1995.
Mount Hermon United Methodist Church (Mount Hermon, La.) records
This collection documents the activities of Mount Hermon United Methodist Church (Mount Hermon, La.). The collection includes membership records, administrative council minutes, pastor memoirs, church history, articles of incorporation, directory, and an event calendar.