Biography

Centenary United Methodist Church was located at 1015 Cleveland Street, Franklinton, Louisiana.

Methodists' revival first reached the area in the early 1800s. There was a Methodist campground as early as 1834 at nearby Hayes Creek. The Centenary congregation was formed in 1832 and received its official charter in 1842. Meetings were held outdoors and in private homes. When the Franklinton Masonic Lodge was built in 1851, the congregation began using its lower floor for services. In 1883, church members began work on their own church when "Uncle" John R. Wood donated a piece of land to the congregation. The $1,650 building was completed and dedicated two years later.

The next church building was constructed in the early 1920s. The old church was taken down, and services were held in the courthouse during construction. The first service in the new facilities (which cost $11,900) took place on May 4, 1924.

The church continued to grow and saw the need for even larger facilities in the 1950s. An educational building was first built at a cost of $87,000. It was completed debt-free and opened with a dedication service on May 13, 1956. The old sanctuary was torn down and services were held in the fellowship hall while the new $74,260 sanctuary was built. It was completed in 1958, and the opening service was held on April 12, 1959. It was dedicated in 1964. Shortly after the completion of the sanctuary, the parsonage on Williams Street was built.

Centenary United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in May 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 NO-11.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: