In 1875, Rev. A.E. Clay was appointed to serve the Morgan
City-Berwick communities. A Sunday School was organized in 1890 by Capt. John
Pharr and Gunder Thorguson. It met in the old Eureka Hall. About 1895, the
Berwick Methodists began holding worship services at the temporary facilities.
The first Methodist Church in Berwick was built on
Canton Street in 1898. It was built by a thankful John Pharr, whose sugar cane
crop was spared. As part of a covenant with God, Capt. Pharr built the church.
The following year, he sold the building and land to the church for $1.
The first resident pastor, Rev. T.F. King, wasn't appointed until
1943. He also served the Patterson Church. In 1950, an educational building
was built under the guidance of Mrs. Chloe Allen. The parsonage was built in
1957 at 3802 John St. In 1966, two acres of land on Gilmore St. were donated by
Elizabeth Pharr, granddaughter of Capt. John Pharr. The present church was
built at a cost of $136,000 on the property during the tenure of Rev. J.C.
Wallace. The first services were held in 1968, and the note was paid off on
October 30, 1977. |
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