History

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders ... and let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us.
--Hebrews 12:1


In 1898, Hill’s Spring post office was renamed Denham Springs because of a confusing array of place names in Louisiana with Hill and Spring.

At the end of Tabernacle Street near the Amite River an open-sided, tin-roofed tabernacle, which had been erected by the Methodist Camp Meeting Association, stood beneath tall oak, pine, and gum trees. In 1898, a group of Methodists began meeting in the tabernacle with the Rev. J. Martin Alford of Live Oak Methodist Church serving the small group as pastor once a month.

He received official permission to organize a Methodist church in Denham Springs the following year, starting with 19 charter members. In 1902 a building was erected. The church, built across Center Street from the tabernacle, had one big room which was curtained off for Sunday school classes. A parsonage was located behind it at the corner of the present Magnolia and Center Streets.

The church building was rolled to Main Street at the edge of a canal, on land now crossed by Magnolia Street, about 1917.

Ice cream was sold at lawn parties to help finance the church, which had a pump organ that squeaked and was lighted with coal oil lamps. Children and young people gathered on Sunday evenings for worship and fellowship.

The Amite River overflowed its banks in 1925, and the church building was heavily damaged by flood waters. On one occasion, during the pastorate of the Rev. Joses S. Rutlege (1918-1921) water rose to the ceiling of the parsonage, and the family was taken out by boat.

Higher ground was sought, and in 1927, a new church was built on Mattie Street across from the present building. The parsonage now stands on that site.

The white frame building had a steeple with a church bell which summoned the faithful to worship. Sunday School rooms, including one upstairs known as the Upper Room, a kitchen and pastor’s study were added.

As the church continued to grow, more room was needed, and a new sanctuary went up across the street from the old church, which continued to serve as a Sunday school building. On March 30, 1952, the first service was held in the new sanctuary. An educational building was added in 1957.

In the early morning hours of January 13, 1973, the sanctuary was destroyed by fire. Services continued in the Denham Springs High School gymnasium and the fellowship hall of the educational building while a new sanctuary was built following the same architecture of the 1952 building.

The Connie Smith Prayer Chapel was dedicated on April 20, 1975. It was given by Mabel and George Smith in memory of their daughter. The chapel is open 24 hours a day for prayer and meditation.

The growth of the church was such that additional room was soon needed to facilitate meeting as a church for fellowship activities. The Family Life Center was added to provide a place of recreation, fellowship, and occasional worship.

Now First United Methodist Church continues under the pastorate of the Rev. Bob Deich, meeting the spiritual needs of its members and serving in the world as it has for more than 100 years.