Waterproof United Methodist Church (Waterproof, La.) records
Scope and Contents
This collection includes membership records, administrative reports, church histories, a bulletin, and
Woman's Society of Christian Service records from Waterproof United Methodist Church (Waterproof, La.).
The membership records consist of the church register (1890-1947) that lists pastors, marriages,
baptisms, and members.
Administrative reports include a church conference book (1871-1900) as
well as quarterly conference record
books (1870-1942). These quarterly conference records reveal numerous circuit and charge changes:
Waterproof Circuit (1870-1871); Waterproof and Tensas Circuit (1870-1871); Waterproof and
Concordia Circuit (1873); Waterproof and Saint Joseph Circuit (1874-1877); Waterproof, Saint Joseph, and
Vidalia Charge (1880-1882); Waterproof and Saint Joseph Charge (1883-1884); Tensas Charge
(1883-1886); Waterproof and Tensas Chapel Charge (1885-1888); and Waterproof Charge
(1888-1942). Churches included in these circuits and charges include: Waterproof, Wesley Chapel,
Elizabeth Chapel, Tensas Chapel, Cash Bayou, Saint Joseph, Jordan Chapel, Ogden, Newellton, and
L’Argent.
The church histories (1941-1993) detail the formation and activities of the congregation. The bulletin covers the worship activities of March 19, 1995.
The Woman’s Society of Christian Service records consist of meeting minutes (1952-1956).
Dates
- 1870 - 1995
Creator
- Waterproof United Methodist Church (Waterproof, La.) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Physical rights are retained by the Centenary College of Louisiana Archives and Special Collections. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.
Biographical / Historical
Waterproof United Methodist Church (Waterproof, Louisiana) traces its history to the formation of the Waterproof Circuit established in 1849 by the Louisiana Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. During the Civil War, the church and its records were destroyed. Efforts to rebuild the church during the 1870s proved difficult. During this decade, the church moved multiple times because of the nearby changes in the banks of the Mississippi River. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the church was often combined on a circuit with other nearby congregations. Other churches on the circuit included: Wesley Chapel, Elizabeth Chapel, Tensas Chapel, Cash Bayou, Saint Joseph, Jordan Chapel, Ogden, Newellton, and L’Argent. Waterproof United Methodist Church closed in 2002.
Extent
2 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged in four series:
1. Membership Records (1890-1947)
2. Administrative Reports (1870-1942)
3. Church Histories and Bulletins (1941-1995)
4. Woman’s Society of Christian Service Records (1952-1956)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection transferred by Ray L. Varnado in 2011. Additional accrual from Shreveport District of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church (acc. no. 2011-038).
- Church bulletins
- Church records and registers -- Louisiana -- Tensas Parish
- Methodist Church (U.S.). Louisiana Conference (South Central Jurisdiction)
- Methodist Church (U.S.). Louisiana Conference. Woman's Society of Christian Service
- Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Louisiana Conference
- Minutes (administrative records)
- United Methodist Church (U.S.). Louisiana Conference
Creator
- Waterproof United Methodist Church (Waterproof, La.) (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Waterproof United Methodist Church (Waterproof, La.) records
- Author
- Chris Brown
- Date
- 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Centenary College of Louisiana Archives and Special Collections Repository