A group of Methodists met on
October 24, 1941 to form a new church. An organizational meeting
was held at the Harahan City Hall. The charter for the Harahan Methodist
Church was validated on November 9, 1941. Rev. Karl Tooke, pastor
at Munholland, became the first pastor. Due to the war, building
materials were hard to come by. The congregation met in the city
hall for about 3 years. Using materials from a building damaged by
fire, the first church was build and was dedicated on November 10, 1945.
The first full-time pastor was Rev. Robert Jamieson.
A new sanctuary was build in
1952 and the old one was demolished. The congregation of 50 persons
met at the Harahan Recreation Center during construction. An educational
building was constructed in 1954. The name was changed to St. Paul's
Methodist Church that year.
In 1956, the parsonage was moved
from 663 Grove St. to 128 Magnolia Blvd. In 1976, a new parsonage
was acquired at 59 Donelon Dr. in Harahan.
A new sanctuary was completed
in 1961. The 1952 sanctuary is being used as the Fellowship Hall.
Source: A History of St. Paul's
United Methodist Church |
