In 1839, five Methodists established
a Methodist Society in the area. Meetings were held in a cabin across
the road from “The Gill Place.” Those five persons included
Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Kay, Mr. R.L. Taliaferro, and Mrs. S.M. Perkins.
Circuit riders passing through the area would hold services for them until
1872. It is said that most of those early circuit riders came to
them from Mississippi.
In 1844, thirty new members
were added to the roll. Another thirty were added in 1846.
The next increase was seven members added by Rev. F. White in 1856.
During and after the Civil War, church services ceased and the building
was used as a school. Services began in 1868 under the leadership
of Rev. J.S. Davis and Rev. F. White.
John Dunwoody had willed the
church four acres of land in 1851. In 1872, a new and larger church
was built there (the current site of the church). Rev. C. Keener
became the pastor.
One of the outstanding laypersons
from the church was C.C. Weir, who started the Methodist Children’s Home
in Bunkie in1906.
In 1949, a recreation hall and
three classrooms were built. The hall (Campbell Hall) was named after
Mr. S.L. Campbell, Sr. Another building was constructed in 1959 under
the leadership of Rev. George Sherman, Jr. |
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