The Wesley United Methodist Church
began as a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church, North in 1866.
After the Civil War, Rev. R.K. Diossy was appointed to this area by the
Methodist Episcopal Church, North. Since Louisiana Methodism had
always been in the southern branch of the church, it was his task to start
churches under the northern branch. Under his leadership, property
was purchased on the corner of Canal and Wood Streets and a church was
built. The first pastor was William Murrell, who also served the
Thibodaux church that Rev. Diossy had begun. By the end of 1866,
there were 340 members in Thibodaux and Houma, and both churches had been
completed.
In 1889, the original church
was replaced by a white frame steepled church with colored glass windows.
The size of the church property increased when the Evening Star Lodge #1
donated an adjacent piece of land. The 1889 church stood for 80 years.
Due to the effects of time and Hurricane Betsy (1965), the church was torn
down and replaced with the present building.
The new church was constructed
in 1970 under the leadership of Pastor Henry Gage. During construction,
members worshiped with the Mount Vernon UMC in Gray, LA. Consecration
services were held for the new church in June 1970. The mortgage
note was burned on Dec. 12, 1976.
Source: Methodism Along the Bayou, Timothy Hebert |
