A Sunday School was organized
in 1880 in the Fairview Community with the help of Rev. W.H. Cline.
It was held in the home of Gilbert N. Brown. Later, in 1888, a school
was built and the Sunday School held classes there. The following
year, the church … the Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church … was
organized. On January 31, 1894, Willard Taylor sold the church five
acres of land for $1. Construction of the church began in July of
that year, with members of the church contributing their labor.
When the community applied for
a post office, the name Fairview was already taken. So the town’s
name was changed to Raymond, and the church’s name was changed as well.
The post office was to be put in the home of Monroe Brown, who had a son
by the name of Raymond.
Rev. R.R. Ellis and his family were the first occupants
of the parsonage, which was constructed in 1916.
Times were bad from 1930 to
1933, when worship and Sunday School were ceased. When an attempt
was made to sell the church, the congregation reorganized and formed a
Sunday School. Rev. John Deschner (the pastor at Welsh) came to Raymond
every other Sunday to conduct worship.
An education building was constructed
in 1942. The dedication service was held on August 9, 1942.
The new structure contained a kitchen, a recreation area, and four classrooms.
The church was remodeled in
1945-46 and dedicated on March 3, 1946. Changes included new colored
windows, new carpet runners, a remodeled altar, a new choir loft, and two
new classrooms. Classrooms, a pastor’s office, and a larger kitchen
were added to the education building in 1948.
The church was seriously damaged
by hurricane Audrey on June 27, 1957. Though it was twisted off its
foundation and damaged, it was soon repaired.
On October 11, 1970, ground-breaking
ceremonies were held for a new church building. It was completed
in a few months, with the first service (for consecration) held on March
28, 1971. An open house was held on September 12, 1971 after everything
was completed, including new pews. The dedication service later took
place on June 8, 1975. |
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