In the early 1830s, Rev. Richmond
Randle held a camp meeting at Sulphur Springs, six miles from Minden.
Over those early years, there were eight congregations that formed in the
area. They were served by circuit riders. Rev. Randle would
later serve the Minden church (1845-1847, 1850).
The town of Minden was founded
in 1836. The next year, Rev. Sidney Squires was appointed pastor
and Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Drake donated property for a church. The first
church in the town was soon built. With necessary repairs made through
the years, it served the congregation for seven decades.
In 1905, a new church was built
while Rev. T.J. Warlick served as pastor. The semi-gothic design
made of the “best St. Louis hydraulic pressed brick” had seating for four
hundred and fifty people.
A parsonage was built in 1915,
under the leadership of Rev. W.W. Drake. It was replaced by a new
parsonage in 1955 while Rev. Dan R. Robinson served as pastor. The
current parsonage was acquired in 1998 under the leadership of Rev. Tom
Lowe.
A children’s building was constructed
in 1964 while Rev. Merlin Merrill served as pastor. Rev. Kirby A.
Vining was pastor when the activities building was built in 1973.
In 1988, a new sanctuary was constructed under the leadership of Rev. Bob
Burgess.
Though some seventy pastors
have served the church over the years, those with the longest tenure were
Rev. Merrill (1958-65) and Rev. Burgess (1984-90). |
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