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Evergreen United Methodist Church (Evergreen, La.) records

 Collection
Identifier: LACUMC-Evergreen UMC

Scope and Contents

This collection documents the activities of Evergreen United Methodist Church (Evergreen, La.). It includes church register books, a church history, a centennial service program, and a deed certificate.

Dates

  • 1839 - 1995

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

Evergreen United Methodist Church (Evergreen, La.) is located at 281 Hill Street, Evergreen, Louisiana.

In 1839, five Methodists established a Methodist Society in the area. Meetings were held in a cabin across the road from “The Gill Place.” Those five persons included Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Kay, Mr. R.L. Taliaferro, and Mrs. S.M. Perkins. Circuit riders passing through the area would hold services for them until 1872. It is said that most of those early circuit riders came to them from Mississippi.

In 1844, thirty new members were added to the roll. Another thirty were added in 1846. The next increase was seven members added by Rev. F. White in 1856. During and after the Civil War, church services ceased and the building was used as a school. Services began in 1868 under the leadership of Rev. J.S. Davis and Rev. F. White.

John Dunwoody had willed the church four acres of land in 1851 . In 1872, a new and larger church was built there (the current site of the church). Rev. C. Keener became the pastor.

One of the outstanding laypersons from the church was C.C. Weir, who started the Methodist Children’s Home in Bunkie in 1906.

In 1949, a recreation hall and three classrooms were built. The hall (Campbell Hall) was named after Mr. S.L. Campbell, Sr. Another building was constructed in 1959 under the leadership of Rev. George Sherman, Jr.

Evergreen United Methodist Church disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church in 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 AL-19.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Organized by subject, then chronologically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred by Sally Tanner Namie circa 2008.

Title
Finding Aid to the Evergreen United Methodist Church (Evergreen, La.) records
Author
Olivia Brignac and Chris Brown
Date
2017
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