In 1871, Rev. T.B. White, pastor
at New Iberia, started holding services near Jeanerette at a school house
on Dr. William Richardson's land. In 1875, services were moved to
a warehouse in Jeanerette. Later that year, a plot of land was bought
and work was begun on the first of four buildings that were to stand on
the site. The original church was destroyed in 1880 by a hurricane.
Using much of the original lumber, a second church was built that same
year. In 1887, Dr. Charles McGowen donated a bell to be placed in
the steeple. A large pulpit Bible was given in 1899 by Mrs. J.C.
Akers, Sr.
As the congregation grew, a
larger facility was needed. So, in 1905, the church was sold to the
Jerusalem Baptist congregation and a new church was built. Over the
years, a heavy asbestos roof was added and a back room of the church was
removed. This weakened the structure so that in 1951, it was declared
unsafe and was closed. The fixtures were removed, and services were
held in the Masonic Lodge on Main Street. By 1953, the congregation
(under the leadership of Rev. A.M. Martin) completed a new church building.
The church was named McGowen Memorial in memory of Charles and Florence
McGowen. A round stained glass window, depicting Jesus praying at
Gethsemane, was given in memory of the McGowens and was placed just under
the steeple. The stained glass windows around the church memorialize
members from the Richardson and Bussey families.
As the membership increased,
two Sunday School rooms and a Fellowship Hall were added in 1959. |
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