Maurepas Baptist Church, Livingston Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue



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From the book entitled "The Free State - A History and Place-Names Study
of Livingston Parish" by the members of the Livingston Parish American
Revolution Bicentennial Committee in cooperation with the Livingston 
Parish Police Jury and the Louisiana American Revolution Bicentennial
Commission, 1976.  Reprinted by permission.  Dedicated to the memory of
Reuben Cooper and Raymond Riggs.

MAUREPAS BAPTIST CHURCH dates to 1917 when the Home Mission Board of the

Southern Baptist Convention sent the Rev. J.F. Arceneaux of Denham Springs

from New River to begin work in the community.  The church was officially

organized by Rev. Arceneaux and nine charter members on Oct. 9, 1917.

     A Mr. Duplessis and Charles Stephens were the two original deacons,

and later the church ordained Quave Berthelot as a deacon.  On of the 

charter members, Mrs. Teazille Stephens, is still a faithful worker in

the church.

     For several years the Baptist group met for worship in the Methodist

church after initial services were held in the school house and in people's

homes.  In 1924 the members erected a small building of rough pine, and in 

1937 a larger building was built and the church later added classrooms and

a fellowship hall.

     Baptisms were held in the Amite River, and then later in the bapistery

at Sorrento Baptist Church and other area churches.  In 1956 the church

purchased its own baptistery.  A new sanctuary was built and dedicated in

the period between April 29, 1973 and July 14, 1974.

     Some 41 ministers have served as pastor of the church since its or-

ganization. -- Paulette Richardson

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