In 1876, river boat captain
Hamton Mears wanted to have his children raised as Methodists. He
offered local preacher James D. Parker his home as a meeting place.
Mr. Parker was from the Rayne Church, which was too far for the children
to walk. As the group grew, a larger room on Laurel Street (belonging
to Charles Walker) was used for meetings. The group kept moving and
growing. Mr. Parker then began asking for money to build a church.
In 1880, land was purchased
at Constance and Octavia. The first church was built in 1882 and
named Parker Chapel. The offering at the dedication service ($700)
was enough to pay off the outstanding debts on the new church. In
1886, Parker Chapel was assigned to Rev. George Mandeville, pastor at the
Carrollton Avenue Church. By 1889, there were 169 members.
In 1890 two lots were purchased on Jefferson Avenue and Magazine Street.
After the chapel was moved to the new location, a tower, vestibule, and
classrooms were added. Rev. Franklin N. Parker was the pastor at
that time.
After James D. Parker died in
1895, the church was renamed Parker Memorial Methodist Church in his honor
in 1897. A parsonage was bought in 1897 at 734 Nashville Avenue.
The cornerstone for the present
church was laid in 1904 under the leadership of Rev. K.W. Dodson.
It was completed during the pastorate of Rev. Atkinson (1907-1911).
The church debt was paid off by 1917. An education building was purchased
while Rev. P.M. Caraway served as pastor (1927-28). The old parsonage
was sold in 1928, and a new parsonage was purchased on Eleonore Street.
Shortly after, the church began installing stained glass windows as memorials.
An adult class begun in 1947,
the Lamplighters, has helped with church projects through the years.
In 1955, work began on a new
education building.
When the Eighth Street Methodist Church closed down in
1956, its 50 members transferred to Parker.
The dedication of the education
building was led by Bishop Aubrey Walton on June 14, 1964. |
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