Biography

Claiborne United Methodist Church was located at 5401 Cypress Street, West Monroe, Louisiana.

The first services in the area were camp meetings held on the site of the present school. After the first school was built in 1908-09, visiting Methodist circuit riders used it to hold services. Rev. J. R. Roy, pastor of the church in West Monroe, accepted ten members at a service at the school in 1919. By mid-1920, interest had risen in building a Methodist church. Rev. H. W. Ledbetter led the congregation as fundraisers generated capital.

Mrs. W. A. Burt donated a lot on Claiborne Road on which to build a Community Methodist Church. Mrs. Minnie Burt Haynes sold a lot to the church for $25. Local men built a 30x60’ building, located behind the present-day Claiborne School. The church’s first seats came from Colony Methodist when it disbanded. After pews were later built, those chairs were given to another church. Worship was held every other Sunday afternoon.

Property was bought from Mr. W. R. Williams on the comer of Well Road and Hwy 80 West in 1947. The first service was held in the new church on Easter Sunday, 1948. An education building was constructed in 1958. That building is now used as a fellowship hall and for daycare. The Day Care Center was begun during the pastorate of Rev. Ed Parks (1979-83).

In 1984, the old parsonage was moved from its lot and a new one was built. In 1986, plans were made to renovate the church.

Claiborne 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 MO-18.

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