On May 10, 1889, the Baptist
Church of Christ in Crowville bought a one and a half acres of land on
the Harrisonburg Road (Hwy 578) and built a church on the southwest corner
of the plot. The rest of the land was used as a free burial ground.
Since the Methodists and Presbyterians had helped in the construction,
on May 23, 1889 an agreement was drawn up to allow those two denominations
to worship in the structure on the second and fourth Sundays.
The Methodist congregation was
organized by Rev. D.C. Barr in 1913. After a visiting minister from
Mississippi held a revival there in 1915, the Methodists were inspired
to build their own church. They held services and Sunday School at
the Crowville School (at the corner of Hwy 17 and Hwy 577) while they raised
money. The Sunday School was a Union gathering of various denominations.
The community pulled together to haul the lumber from the train station
and build the church.
In 1952, the church decided
to build a parsonage. After buying a lot for $5 from Ellis G. Grube
on April 4, 1953, a parsonage was built. In 1956, the orphanage in
Ruston suggested that they exchange a home (that had been left to them
by Mrs. Mamie Bush) with the Crowville parsonage. It was approved
in 1958.
In 1968, the church began construction
on a new church and education building. The church was later dedicated
in 1975.
Source: History of the Crowville United Methodist Church:
1990-1981, Hazel Guyton Biggs |
