Fitzgerald United Methodist Church (Covington, La.)
Biography
Fitzgerald United Methodist Church was located at 80007 Fitzgerald Church Road, Covington, Louisiana.
Sometime before or after 1816, Thomas J. Fitzgerald, an Episcopalian immigrant from Ireland, built a school house under a large holly tree. After attending an Episcopal church in Covington for a while, Mr. Fitzgerald started a Methodist church near his home. The first services were held in private homes off Highway 40, near the property of B. J. Jenkins and Mrs. David Tinney. After a few years, services were held at what is now the Semaloosa Cemetery. Methodist and Baptist ministers took turns conducting services.
In 1915, the Salmen Lumber Company gave the church a 110 by 420 foot piece of land at the southwest corner of the cemetery. The property ran across the road extending behind the location of the present church. The value of the land at that time was $1 an acre. Sometime between 1882 and 1908, a small boxlike church (of logs or rough 1x12s) was built on the property. It was used for a school and a Sunday school. It had a dirt floor and the benches were attached to the inner wall. It is not certain if this building was moved across the road or if a new building was built.
A 24 by 40 foot church was built on the site. It faced north and had a belfry over its doorway on the northwest corner. The church has been remodeled several times over the years. When the road was changed to its present location, the church was turned to face the road. The belfry, nicknamed "Benelick" by Rankin Scott Fitzgerald, had been in bad shape and was torn down. Doors were put in the middle of the rear of the building at this time.
In 1955, 9/10 of an acre on the north side of the church was purchased from the Galloway estate. The old church was set on rollers (logs?) and moved to its present site. An educational building was also constructed at this time. In 1958, the front and side of the original building were remodeled. The church facilities now consisted of the sanctuary, a fellowship hall, four classrooms, a kitchen and restrooms. By 1961, plans were underway to construct a new sanctuary at the north end of the educational building. A parsonage was built about 1965 on 2 acres of land located on the southeast corner of Bush-Folsom Highway 40 and Fitzgerald Church Road. In 1972, a choir room was added, carpeting was installed, an organ and pews were purchased (from First Methodist Church in Covington), and the sanctuary was enlarged.
Fitzgerald 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 NO-21.