The origins of the Louisiana
Memorial United Methodist Church can be traced back to the beginnings of
Methodism in Louisiana. When Elisha Bowman came to Louisiana, he
made his way to Opelousas and organized a Methodist Society in 1806.
That first year, he accepted 17 members into the church. Services
were later held in a community church between St. Landry and Vine Streets,
near Cain Street. The first church had one room, and a cupola at
the top for slaves.
When the Louisiana Conference
was formed in 1847, the first Annual Conference was held at the Opelousas
Methodist Church. The pastor of the Opelousas Church for 1847 was
Rev. Gad Gilbert. The church has been called the "mother church"
of Methodism in Louisiana.
In 1846, property was purchased
at the corner of North Lombard and East Bellevue from the Fonda family
and a new church built. The new church was a wooden building with
a balcony for slaves. The first Louisiana Annual Conference was held
at the church in 1847. During the Civil War, the earlier church records
were taken and disappeared.
A parsonage was built in 1881.
The church building that was built in the mid 19th century was replaced
in 1902 with a new structure.
In 1955, the second church was
torn down and a new church was built. The third church building was
built and was consecrated on March 18, 1956. The church was renamed
the Louisiana Memorial Methodist Church. It was later dedicated in
November, 1960 by Bishop Aubrey Walton. |
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