According to an article in the
New Orleans Christian Advocate, the Doyline church was being built as of
December 3, 1885. An obituary by Rev. R.M. Blocker on that date for
Miss Emma N. Doyle noted that the “church is now going up.” The dedication
for the new church was held in the fall of 1886. Services had been
held previously. Capt. D.B. Doyle joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South at a meeting by Rev. S.S. Scott held in a nearby home in
1872. One member recalled meetings held outdoors under a brush arbor.
The first church was a square
structure. It was later moved on logs around 1915 and became a store.
A second church was built in 1916. There were two separate entry
doors in a vestibule in the southeast corner. It was a divided sanctuary,
with men sitting on one side and women on the other. It faced the
highway, with the pulpit at the north end.
The current church was built
in 1926. Though it is now white, it was painted brown at first.
In the 1940s, classrooms, a kitchen, and a pastor’s study (later the nursery)
were added. The church bell was donated to the church by Mr.
J. Gladden Willis, Sr. |
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