About 1833, the Soule family gave
a plot of land to be used for worship by the slave servants. Initially
known as the Lafayette Mission, it became known as Winans Chapel in 1848,
after Rev. William Winans. After the Mississippi Mission Conference
formed, the church became the First Street Methodist Episcopal Church and
was one of the Conference’s charter members in 1865. The 1866 Annual
Conference was held there. The first two buildings from 1867 were
later destroyed ... one was demolished and one was destroyed by fire.
First Street was the original
home of the Thomson Biblical Institute which began in 1866. It later
became part of Thomson University, which merged with Normal, which later
became New Orleans University in 1873. This body later became part
of Dillard.
The present church was constructed
in 1894 and was modeled after the Christ Church Cathedral on St. Charles
Avenue. Led by Rev. R.M. Davis, a parsonage and educational building
were constructed in 1936.
In 1946, Rev. W.T. Handy, Sr.
was in charge when two lots were purchased across the street for future
expansion. Under Rev. T.R.W. Harris, the church was renovated in
1952. Another lot, next to the church on Dryades, was purchased in
1965 under the leadership of Rev. George W. Carter.
In 1972, the church received
a plaque marking it as an Historic Landmark Site in the city.
More land was purchased while Rev. Abraham E. Davis
was pastor. A multi-purpose building was constructed and the sanctuary
was renovated in the mid 1980s.
Three local churches in New Orleans voted to merge at a special charge conference on April 22.
Peck United Methodist Church and Wesley UMC voted to merge with First Street UMC after several months of meet ings and discussions. Peck and Wesley, deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina, have been worshipping together at First Street since the storm in 2005.
Present at the historic charge conference were Rev. Dr. Martha Orphe, mission zone director; Rev. Ralph Ford, New Orleans district superintendent; Rev. Lance Eden, pastor of First Street UMC; and Cooperative Parish 3 Team Leaders Revs. Simon Chigumira, Eunice Chigumira and Mollie McGee.
Rev. Orphe noted that all three of the merging churches have served the Central City of New Orleans with “outstanding ministries” for both adults and children. Along with Rev. McGee, she developed a resolution for church merger that was drawn up by designated members of all three churches. They include Tommie Alexander and Dian Lawless from First Street; Clarence Crockett and Cheryl Gorden from Peck; and Djuana Cole and Leola Newton from Wesley.
The churches merge under a new name: First Street PW United Methodist Church.
“Hurricane Katrina’s devastation and the breaking of the levees caused much sadness and despair in the city of New Orleans and the United Methodist community. But out of this sadness, three congregations have come together in love and Christian fellowship to form a new church out of the ruins,” said Rev. Eden.
The merger of the three churches allows for expanded ministries, joining the three churches in an effort to more effectively fulfill the mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in New Orleans.
LA Now, June 22, 2007 |
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