Since we are surrounded by such
a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders ... and let us run with perserverance the
race marked out for us.
--Hebrews 12:1
In 1898, Hill’s Spring post office was renamed Denham
Springs because of a confusing array of place names in
Louisiana with Hill and Spring.
At the end of Tabernacle Street near the Amite River an
open-sided, tin-roofed tabernacle, which had been erected
by the Methodist Camp Meeting Association, stood beneath
tall oak, pine, and gum trees. In 1898, a group of Methodists
began meeting in the tabernacle with the Rev. J. Martin
Alford of Live Oak Methodist Church serving the small
group as pastor once a month.
He received official permission to organize a Methodist
church in Denham Springs the following year, starting
with 19 charter members. In 1902 a building was erected.
The church, built across Center Street from the tabernacle,
had one big room which was curtained off for Sunday school
classes. A parsonage was located behind it at the corner
of the present Magnolia and Center Streets.
The church building was rolled to Main Street at the edge
of a canal, on land now crossed by Magnolia Street, about
1917.
Ice cream was sold at lawn parties to help finance the
church, which had a pump organ that squeaked and was lighted
with coal oil lamps. Children and young people gathered
on Sunday evenings for worship and fellowship.
The Amite River overflowed its banks in 1925, and the
church building was heavily damaged by flood waters. On
one occasion, during the pastorate of the Rev. Joses S.
Rutlege (1918-1921) water rose to the ceiling of the parsonage,
and the family was taken out by boat.
Higher ground was sought, and in 1927, a new church was
built on Mattie Street across from the present building.
The parsonage now stands on that site.
The white frame building had a steeple with a church bell
which summoned the faithful to worship. Sunday School
rooms, including one upstairs known as the Upper Room,
a kitchen and pastor’s study were added.
As the church continued to grow, more room was needed,
and a new sanctuary went up across the street from the
old church, which continued to serve as a Sunday school
building. On March 30, 1952, the first service was held
in the new sanctuary. An educational building was added
in 1957.
In the early morning hours of January 13, 1973, the sanctuary
was destroyed by fire. Services continued in the Denham
Springs High School gymnasium and the fellowship hall
of the educational building while a new sanctuary was
built following the same architecture of the 1952 building.
The Connie Smith Prayer Chapel was dedicated on April
20, 1975. It was given by Mabel and George Smith in memory
of their daughter. The chapel is open 24 hours a day for
prayer and meditation.
The growth of the church was such that additional room
was soon needed to facilitate meeting as a church for
fellowship activities. The Family Life Center was added
to provide a place of recreation, fellowship, and occasional
worship.
Now First United Methodist Church continues under the
pastorate of the Rev. Bob Deich, meeting the spiritual
needs of its members and serving in the world as it has
for more than 100 years.