Galilee Baptist Church, Vernon Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Jane Parker McManus
Date: August 8, 2013

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Source: Wise, Erbon W. Tall Pines II, A History of
Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People. 1988. Print
Galilee Baptist Church organized in 1902
Galilee Baptist Church, located about one-half mile west
of Evans High School off Highway 111, was organized in the
summer of 1902.

Early history of the church, recalled by Rosa Young of Evans,
establishes the fact that the Rev. Jim Killen was the first
minister. Killen moved to the community in the fall of 1901
on a farm on Sabine River known as the Bud Jones place. When
he got his crop planted in the spring of the next year, he
organized the church at a one-room school known as Sand Spur.
This was about two miles west of the present location.

Rev. Killen, who had three sons and one daughter, stayed in
the community about five years before moving away. The people
then built what was called a community church near the cemetery
on the south side. This church was used for about two years
before it was destroyed by fire.

A church was built on the east side of the cemetery and was 
used by the congregation until 1956 when a new building was
constructed at the present site. Dedication services were
held on Father's Day in 1956. Land for the new church and
cemetery was donated by C.S. Simmons, Murf Loftin and Frank
Mitchum.

The present church plant consists of a concrete block
auditorium, six Sunday School rooms, a kitchen and two
bathrooms.

Since church records were destroyed when the pastor's 
house burned in 1946, historical facts are being presented
partly through memory, according to Mrs. Young. She recalls
that some of the founding members were Rev. J.M. Killen and
Mrs. Killen, Mr. and Mrs. William N. Loftin, Mr. and Mrs.
M.H. loftin, Martha Stanley, Mary Simmons, Cynthia Jarrell
and S.H. Loftin.

The present minister, Rev. H.H. Prewitt has served the church
since 1957. Early pastors besides Killen were J.C. Lynch,
C.A. Woods, J.O. Fountain, John Hall, McMullen, Alex Hughes,
Branch Jean, E.E. Fields, Nelson Mitchell, Frank Roberts,
Vester Headrick and S.A. Hicks.