The congregation began as the
Trenton Methodist Episcopal Church, South. A plaque on the building
says that it was founded in 1847. The first church structure was
built about 1850 in Trenton. Though it was used for blacks and whites,
the black members sat in a gallery in the rear. Though services were
interrupted at the time of the Civil War, services resumed when Rev. Jewel
was appointed in 1868 and a Sunday School was organized.
After the railroad was completed
through the area, the city of West Monroe took hold. The congregation
decided to move to the new town. The church was torn down and rebuilt
in West Monroe. A lot was donated to the church by Millsaps and McClain
and others. The church was rebuilt on the 150 square lot.
A parsonage was completed in 1913. Led by the Sunday School and the
Womens Missionary Society, the debt on the facilities was paid off by
1917.
A new sanctuary was built on
North Second and Wood Streets in 1920-21. A new parsonage and an
education building were built in 1955.
In 1978, the congregation decided
to relocate for better community outreach. New facilities were constructed
on 37 acres of land at Glenwood Drive. The first service was
held April 4, 1982. In 1999, construction began on a Family Life
Center. |
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