Biography

Urania United Methodist Church (Urania, La.) is located at 6577 Tannehill Drive, Urania, Louisiana.

Religious services began by 1906 with revival services held under a tent in the woods. They were led by Sisters Perdue and Bartlet. By 1912, Methodists (and other denominations) began holding services at the Woodmen of the World building on Main Street. Sister Perdue (a Methodist) and a Baptist minister each preached there once a month. The congregations later separated, with the Methodists forming the Urania Methodist Protestant Church. They continued to meet in the same building. Sunday School was held in the afternoon every Sunday.

In 1926, they decided to build their own structure. After the theater at Urania burned down, that location was selected for the church. The Hardtner family (who owned the Urania Lumber Company) had the company build the church in 1927. The church arranged to repay the debt in monthly payments. Numerous fundraising efforts were made. Henry Hardtner matched donations from area merchants. The church was built in memory of Sister Bartlet, who had moved to California.

Sister Perdue (who lived in Atlanta, Texas) would take the train to Urania once a month to hold services. The lumber company paid her salary for many years. She served the church until 1939.

The church was left without a pastor after the 1939 merger in Methodism, and some members joined other churches.

In 1956, the church was remodeled. Local residents used 35 varieties of (native) hardwoods in the sanctuary. The lighted cross on the wall was placed in memory of long-time member C.E. Tannehill. Bishop Walton led the dedication service for the remodeled church in the early 1960s.

When the Urania Lumber Company was bought by Georgia-Pacific in 1968, the land was deeded to the church (1969).

Urania United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in 2022.

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