CHURCH HISTORIES Terrebonne Parish, LA BAPTIST - MOUNT PILGRIM 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 - MOUNT PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH Location in 2007 - 4929 North Bayou Black Dr., Gibson, LA The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E MOUNT PILGRIM FOUNDED 1886 NEAR GIBSON (picture of church in paper) In 1886, a church was founded in Gibson under the name of Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. But, according to James Matthews, an elder member of the church, Mount Pilgrim's history goes farther back than that. From Mr. Matthews' recollection, we gather the following account of Mount Pilgrim. The original building of Mount Pilgrim was located at Live Oak. Live Oak was a farm owned by Mr. L. Gibson (Gibson, La. was named after him) and his four nephews, Tobias Gibson, Randhal Gibson, Hayes Cage and Gaten Cage. They came from North Carolina and with them brough forty-nine slaves. Included as slaves were: Bob Gates, Nellie Taylor, Charles Taylor and Cye Gates. Mr. Matthews recalled that he walked with his grandmother from his home to a church which had been built on Live Oak. The name of the church was St. Mark Baptist Church. Matthews attended "Sabbath School" as his grandmother waited until services began. The students at "Sabbath School" were taught to read and write. At the time, Rev. Del Mente Redo pastured St. Mark. Reverends John Aubert and L. McComb succeeded Redo, respectively. In 1904, the St. Mark Baptist Church was torn down and rebuilt on a tract of land donated to the church by George Matthews (James Matthews' father). Cypress cut from the woods behind George Matthews' house added to make the reconstructed St. Mark a larger church. When the reconstruction was finished, the church was renamed Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church; Reverend Henry C. Coleman served as pastor. Again, due to prospering membership, Mount Pilgrim was renovated in 1937 under the administration of Rev. Thomas J. Ellis. This time it was moved to a piece of property purchased by the church. Reverend Ellis served Mt. Pilgrim until 1966 when Reverend James Allen became the new pastor. Rev. Allen was also forced to enlarge the church because of the increase in membership. Reverend Allen built a church that easily accommodated the thriving Mount Pilgrim congregation. The pastors of Mount Pilgrim (both the mother and daughter churches) were Reverends Del Mente Redo, John Aubert, L. McComp, Henry Coleman, and Thomas Ellis. Reverend James Allen is the present pastor. In 1904, the deacons were W. Allridge, D. Green, F. Washington, F. Williams, M. Gray, J. Matthews, A. Brooks, N. Ruffin, clerk; G. Matthews, treasurer and F. Ross, secretary. The Rev. H.C. Coleman, Pastor. In 1937 the deacons for the church were Issac Presost (sp? Prevost?), Johnny Rollins, Glosen White, James Matthews, Henry Gray, Jordon Rollins Sr., Cornealous Bolden, Jessie Matthews, secretary and Gabriel Brown, treasurer. The Ref. J.J. Ellis was pastor. Since 1966, the deacons are Johnny Rollins, Richard S. Seymore Sr., James Lewis; Jordan J. Rollins, Johnny Washington, Henderson Ruffin, Mack C. Aitkens, Herman Bolden, Cornealous Bolden and Ruebe Coleman. The Rev. James Allen is pastor.