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Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church (Ferriday, La.) records

 Collection
Identifier: LACUMC-2023-107

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the activities of the Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church (Ferriday, La.). The collection includes membership records, baptism records, and administrative records.

Dates

  • 1928 - 2022

Creator

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

Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church (Ferriday, La.) is located at 1830 EE Wallace Boulevard, Ferriday, Louisiana.

The Methodist congregation built the first church in Concordia Parish. Though services probably began earlier...perhaps between 1904 and 1908, we know that they were definitely in progress by 1908.

The first services were held at the railroad depot at the head of Louisiana Avenue. Services were later held on the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Fifth Street at the schoolhouse. In 1910, lots 1 and 2 on block 21 were donated to the church. A small one-room church was built.

Mrs. Carrie D. Sevier donated property on the corner of Louisiana Avenue and Third Street and was helpful in fundraising towards a new church. When she passed away on January 19, 1922, a committee was appointed to complete the task. The new church, the Sevier Memorial Methodist Church, was named in memory of her.

The new brick church was completed and the cornerstone laid in May 1924. There were 102 members at that time. The parsonage at that time was a rented home directly south of the post office.

In 1948, a new annex was constructed. A brick parsonage was built in 1952 on the corner of Virginia Avenue and Sixth Street while Rev. Don Alverson served as pastor.

Plans for a larger church began under the leadership of Rev. J.P. McKeithen in 1963. The new church was completed the following year under the leadership of Rev. Jerry Means. The prayer room was named in honor of Rev. McKeithen. The fellowship hall was named in honor of long-time member Carter C. Walles.

Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in 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 AL-46.

Extent

1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged by subject, then chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Frank Hackler dropped off collection at First United Methodist Church (Alexandria, La.), then transferred by Sheila Foreman (Alexandria District Office administrative assistant) in 2023.

Title
Finding Aid to the Sevier Memorial United Methodist Church (Ferriday, La.) records
Author
Jasmine Jones and Chris Brown
Date
2023
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

Contact:
2911 Centenary Blvd.
Shreveport LA 71104 US
(318) 869-5462