In 1899, a group of people formed
the Spiritualist Society of Bayou Blue. The first services were held
in a hay barn. When Rev. Martin Hebert came to town in 1907 and began
preaching, the Society found that their views coincided with Methodism.
The entire congregation of 60+ members joined to form the St. James Methodist
Church that year. The church was served by local pastors, such as
Robert Martin, and the Houma pastor. Over the next decade, the church
was destroyed by hurricanes in 1912 and 1926; but each time it was rebuilt.
In 1962 property was obtained and a new, larger brick church was built.
The church was renamed LaGrange Memorial at that time.
To have more space and get away
from nearby industrial development, the church decided to relocate to property
donated by the Farmand J. Matherne, Sr. family. With financial help
from the estate of Lucide Cox, a new church was completed and the first
service held there on April 6, 1981. The name of the church was changed
to Bayou Blue United Methodist Church.
The Bayou Blue congregation was joined
by the Houma Heights members in the 1990s. The roots for Houma Heights
began in 1917 when Ella Hooper and Laura White were appointed to the Houma
area and started a Wesley House. In a few years, their efforts developed
into the MacDonnell School. As time passed, a chapel was built at
MacDonnell. As Houma was growing around that area, it was determined
that a church should be built to serve the school and the east side of
Houma.
In 1938, a pastor (Oakley Lee)
was appointed to MacDonnell. Soon after, on May 21, 1939, Houma Heights
Methodist Church held its official opening. The original church was
built at the rear of the school property and included the staff and pupils
in its ministry. It was finally completed in the spring of 1942 under
Rev. M.S. Robertson. In the 1960's, property was bought on Hialeah
Ave., about 2 miles from the school. A new church was soon constructed.
At the end of the 20th century,
the Houma Heights congregation merged with Bayou Blue.
Source: Methodism Along the Bayou, Timothy Hebert |
