The church was started at the community
schoolhouse in 1895 by Rev. E.J. Church. They became known as the
Roanoke Class of the United Brethren Church by 1897. After
meeting in the Thomas hay barn by the railroad for several years, a church
was built. It was dedicated by Rev. W.M. Bell on February 8, 1902.
Rev. W.R. Wilgus was the pastor, but it was common for the Methodist and
United Brethren ministers to preach on alternate Sundays.
The first parsonage was built
under the leadership of Rev. J.H. Patterson (1902-06). It was torn
down in 1946 and replaced with the J.C. Barman house. Later, in 1976,
a brick parsonage was built.
Although a building fund was
started in 1955, construction on a new church began on March 26, 1975.
The new facility was dedicated in 1976. Work on a new parsonage began
right away. It was soon built, with the dedication of the parsonage
held on February 22, 1981.
A bell tower was added in 1979.
While there were sixteen United
Brethren churches at one time, the Roanoke church is the last remaining
church in the Louisiana Conference to come from the United Brethren Church. |
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