Lamar Baptist Church, Franklin Parish, LA

Submitted by: DeWanna Lindo

16-Feb-2002



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LAMAR CHURCH



Lamar Baptist Church was first organized at the Lamar/Waverly

School, around 1902-1903. It cinsisted of eight charter members:

Mr. And Mrs. C.H. Hartley, Mr. And Mrs. John Mathes, Mr. and 

Mrs. S.J. Denson, and Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Dunham. The people

worshiped in the one room school until 1908.



In July 1908 one acre of land, in a square, was purchased from

Mrs. M.E. Mears for $100 cash. The transaction was made by two

deacons of Lamar Church, Mr. S.J. Denson and Mr. C.H. Hartley.

The following was a stipulation of this transaction:

In case it be vacated for a period of two years and the property

was not used for the purpose of a church for two years, then

the property would revert back to the original owner.



At this time in 1908, the first Lamar Baptist Church building was

erected on the present site of Lamar Baptist Church. The first

organist for this church was Mrs. Lou Baker, wife of John Henry 

Baker. When the building was about three years old, it was

destroyed by fire; but the congregation rebuilt it immediately.



The three pioneer ministers were Reverend Ellerbe, Reverend John

Weatherly, and Reverend J.M. Stroud.  The building was at times

in such bad need of repair that the sides had to be propped up

with poles.



In 1950 a remodeling program was started, Rev. Wayne Carpenter

helped with cutting and hauling logs to be made into lumber.

The logs were donated to the church by different members of the 

congregation. A wing was added on each side for Sunday School rooms.

Stained glass windows were put in.



In 1951 the first parsonage was built on the east side of the church.



In 1966 the church desided to build a new brick parsonage. The old

one was sold and moved from the premises.  On May 11,1966, the

church voted to contract the construction of this house to Gwin

Lumber Company of Winnsboro, Louisiana. The dedication service for

the new brick parsonage was held on Sunday, august 14, 1966.



On July 10, 1968, Lamar Church elected a building committee to

work along with the pastor to formulate plans for a new church

and educational building. This committee consisted of Mr. R.E. Goodman.

Mr. Earl Stroud, and Mr. Herman (Pete) Southern. In a business 

meeting on July, 7, 1971, the plans were approved; and the building

was begun.



On November 19,1972, the church had a "Three-In-One-Day" - Homecoming,

Harvest Day, and Dedication Service for the new Lamar Church building.