When Mary Ellen Holmes Benoit
moved to Lake Charles from Pineville, there was no black Methodist Episcopal
church in town. Though she worshipped at Baptist church and at the
Reeves Colored Methodist Episcopal Church for a while, she began holding
meetings in her home on October 12, 1888 with eight charter members.
As membership grew, a lot was purchased for $5 on the 300 block of Franklin
Street. A brush arbor was constructed and services were held underneath.
After determining a corner lot
would be more desirable, they exchanged the lot and $30 for a lot on the
corner of Lawrence and Franklin Streets. The pastor (Rev. Edward
Powell) and Mrs. Benoit worked for the Long Bell Lumber Company.
The company donated the lumbar and the pastor built the first small church
on that corner lot. The church was later enlarged under the leadership
of Rev. B.J. Reddix.
Rev. T.A. Brown began planning
for a new church after a hurricane destroyed the church in August 1918.
The new church was built under the leadership of Rev. C.C. Spears in 1920.
The National Board of Missions and Church Extensions matched the congregation’s
contributions to pay of the $40,000 cost. The church was built with
features based on a modernized version of the old Pharaunic temples of
Egypt, with a 13th century-type high vaulted ceiling. The main building
is topped by a 40 foot high dome and a 60 foot tower at the Lawrence Street
entrance.
New pews were installed under
Rev. George C. Hayward’s leadership in 1945, at a cost of over $5,000.
An organ was later added, and a $25,000 parsonage was built. Renovations
(which included air conditioning) were made under the leadership of Rev.
T.E. McElroy.
A total renovation project was
accomplished under the leadership of Rev. Moses T. Jackson, Sr. This
included new flags, unbreakable windows, and glass doors. An expansion
plan begun in 1972 with the purchase of 2 lots across the street from the
church (one of which had 6 apartments on it).
Under the leadership of Rev.
Richard H. Harry in the late 1970s, numerous improvements were made.
These included refinishing the pews, reroofing the buildings, new
furnishings, and new A/C and heating systems. The apartments across
the street were torn down so that the area could be used for parking.
The parsonage was completely remodeled in June 1986.
Under Rev. Kenneth Fisher’s
leadership, additional remodeling was done on the kitchen and pastor’s
study and fire escapes were installed. The property next to the church
on Boston Street was purchased in 1987. |
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