Residents of the Ragley-Longville
area started thinking about forming a church in the mid 1970s. Though
some questioned if the area could support a new church, the members were
confident. With financial help from the Lake Charles District and
the use of the old Ragley School building, the first pastor (Rev. Nathan
Avant) was appointed to the church. The first service was held on
May 1, 1977. The name of the fledgling congregation was the Community
Methodist Mission.
On March 26, 1978, the Conference
granted a charter for the Squyres United Methodist Church, who had forty
charter members. The church was named for Rev. Rex Squyres, a strong
supporter of rural churches.
As the church grew, larger facilities
were needed. After groundbreaking on February 8, 1981, members of
the church pitched in to help build the church. It was in full use
by the end of the year. The dedication service was held on May 3,
1987 and led by Bishop Walter Underwood. A cemetery was later added
on the west side of the church. The Squyres Church-Risinger Memorial
Park opened in October 1987. An expansion project in 1995 saw many
improvements, including a new paved parking lot. After land
was donated on S.A. Cooley Road, construction began on a brick, four-bedroom
parsonage on November 5, 1995. |
|
