Beech Grove Methodist Church, Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane Parker McManus
Date: July 30, 2013

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Beech Grove Congregational Methodist Church
Source: Tall Timbers II, A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana
and its People; 1988 Expanded Edition by Erbon Wise; Published 1988

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Beech Grove Congregational Methodist Church is located 13 miles west
of Anacoco off Highway 111. The exact date the church was founded is
not known as first records were lost; but it was about 1850.

At the time of its founding the church was known as M.E. Methodist;
but about 1900 the name was changed to Congregational Methodist by a
vote of the members and it has been called that since.

The first pastor was Rev. J.M. Franklin who later served other
pastorates.

Names of some of the early pastors are Rev. Sam Holiday, Leggett,
A.J. Smith, Robert Wright, Pinkney Daily, J.W. Ragan and A.D. Ashby.

Beginning in 1924 pastors have been W.W. Knapp, 1924-1928; Wilson
Jordan, 1929-1930; W.P. Protho, 1931-1933; Otho Jennings, 1934;
W.W. Knapp, 1935-1936; W.P. Protho, 1937-1938; W.W. Knapp, 1939-1940;
C.T. Stewart, 1941-1947; Finas Corie, 1947-1949; J.E. Shoemaker, 1949-
1953; W.P. Protho, 1953-1955; Finas Corie, 1955-1956; K.W. Dickerson, 
1956-1959; Sam Strickland, 1959-1960; I.D. Noble, 1960-1966; Charles 
Brown, 1967-1968; T.O. Adams, 1968-1969; Wesley Harralson, 1969-1970, 
and Roger Noble, 1970.

There have been five buildings since Beech Grove Church was organized. 
The first two were ade of pine logs and were located nearer Sandy Creek 
and also served as school houses. The third and fourth buildings were 
constructed of pine lumber and the fifth of concrete blocks.