Biography

First United Methodist Church was located at 501 West 3rd Street, Homer, Louisiana.

The roots of Methodism in the Homer area probably began with Rev. William Stephenson, who preached in the area in the 1820s and 1830s. The first camp meeting was held in 1825 near Isaac Miller’s cabin. In 1849, a meeting was held in a log cabin to form a church. The church was incorporated in August 1854, and the church began with sixty-one charter members. They continued to meet at the log cabin until a new church was built. Services began at the new church, built on land bought from Tillinghast Vaughn, on January 20, 1857 (the south half of the current church property). After that church collapsed under the weight of a snowfall in 1876, a new church was built on a lot bought from Robert Vaughn (the north half of the current church property). At that time, women sat on the west side of the church and men sat on the east side. The church had a steeple, an arched wooden ceiling, a reed organ, and picket fences in the front and rear.

A new red brick church was built on the site of the old church under the leadership of Rev. H. W. Bowman in 1906. The previous church building was sold to M.F. Robinson, who moved it to South Main Street and used it as a hotel.

The current church was built in 1922-24 under the leadership of Rev. R.W. Tucker. Annual Conference was held for the fourth time in Homer in 1926. The $75,000 church was dedicated by Bishop Hoyt M. Dobbs in 1934. Two round stained glass windows from the previous building were incorporated into the new church.

The education building was built in the early 1950s. Classes began there in 1956 while Rev. Donald Risinger served as pastor. The sanctuary was renovated in 1977. An elevator was added in 1980. Additional remodeling took place in 1985. A new roof, new air conditioning, and a 15-passenger bus were acquired under the leadership of Rev. David Dietzel.

Members who have entered the ministry include Byrl J. Moreland and Fred B. Wideman.

First United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church 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 SH-37.

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