CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA BAPTIST - MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH Submitted by: Cynthia Daigle Source: The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press, Houma, LA. Last modified: 10 MARCH 2008 ================================================== NOTE: Most histories were submitted by the church to the Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press as part of the newspapers Sesquicentennial Edition. Not all churches submitted histories. ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ================================================== BAPTIST - MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH Location in 2007 - 4165 Grand Caillou Road, Houma, LA The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E MORNING STAR BEGAN IN 1872 In 1872, seven years after the Civil War, the Morning Star Baptist Church of Grand Caillou was organized. The church wasn't built until 1884 under the pastorship of Reverend T.L. Welch. The land for the church was donated by Robert Ruffin Barrow. Services of Morning Star continued in this structure until the storm of 1946 blew it down. By 1945, Reverend J.H. Thompson had become pastor of the church. Under Reverend J.H. Thompson's administration, a new church was built. Morning Star Baptist Church also doubled as a school for the local blacks. At the school Reverend Thompson and others taught the students to read and write. Usually several classes were held in the same room at the same time. According to Rev. Thompson, the students had to walk miles to attend school at the church. They also had to bring their own fire wood. Throughout the years, Morning Star Baptist Church has been serving the black people of Grand Caillou both spiritually and educationally. Trustees of the church were P.B. Harding, W. Barner, J. Bailey, A. Alexandria, R. Celestine, R. Creasy Sr., H. Pitman, M. Baker Saxton, R.C. Celestine, treasurer; J.V. Lawson, secretary, and Reverend Welch, pastor. The church deacons were Edmond Charles, Robert Celestine, Dan Celestine, Jonathan Celestine, Richard Jones, Rainey Trosclair, Van Ruthledge, deacon treasurer and Henry Celestine, bell section. The deaconesses were Lucy Valentine, mother; Elizzia Celestine; Elenola Lawerence, Bessie Trosclair, Ceslie Gilfore; Bertha Ruthledge and Lillian Creasy. The ushers were Cora Williams, Oras Trosclair, Gladys Trosclair, Elizabeth Celestine and Van Ruthledge, Jr. Presently, Bertha Celestine is secretary.