Rev. J.S. Haskell organized
the church in 1882. It was named Maldin Chapel at that time.
Under the leadership of Rev. H.C. Armstead, the name was changed to Peck
to honor Bishop Jesse T. Peck. Bishop Peck and his brother Dr. J.L.
Peck had been helpful financially and in other ways.
At first, services were held
in a home on Third Street. Property on Washington and South Tonti
Streets was purchased under the leadership of Rev. Armstead, and the first
church was built. That church burned down in 1892. It was rebuilt
in 1892 under the leadership of Rev. John Wesley Turner.
The second church was demolished
by a storm in 1915. It was rebuilt the following year under the leadership
of Rev. J.M. Price.
Rev. E.S. Johnson helped the
church raise money during his time at Peck. Also at that time, in
1948, the Mallalieu Methodist Church on Sixth Street was discontinued.
and the congregation merged with Peck. Mallalieu gave $6,000 to the
Lafon Home and $2,000 to Peck’s building fund.
Rev. William R. London, Jr.
was appointed pastor in 1952 to lead the congregation in building a new
church. The church, costing over $100,000, was completed by 1955.
The organ and piano were purchased and dedicated on May 29, 1958.
The dedication service for the church was led by Bishop Willis J. King
on June 9, 1964.
Repairs and renovations have
continued to improve the appearance and value of the church through the
years.
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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