At age 5, John narrowly escaped death in a house fire. His mother thereafter thought him especially set aside by God – "a brand plucked from the burning."

In 1714, at age 11, Wesley was sent away to school in London, and later at 17, to Christ Church College, Oxford. There he proved to be an excellent student, particularly gifted in languages and theology.

At age 23 he was appointed a fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford. At age 25, Wesley was ordained a priest in the Church of England.

Shortly after his ordination, John joined his brother, Charles, and other Oxford students, who had formed a religious society (The Holy Club), dedicated to personal devotion and service to the poor. They tried to achieve order and method in their habits of prayer, discussion and social ministry. Thus other students, in jest, called them the "Bible Moths" and the "Methodists." Wesley and his followers adopted the later name as a badge of honor.

Wesley did not yet feel his disciplined life of Holy actions would assure his salvation and decided to go to Georgia in the United States to preach to the Indians. He arrived in that colony in 1735 and spent 2 disappointing years as a missionary. Feeling he had lost his faith in God, Wesley returned to England.

In England, John went through a period of intense inner struggle. He attended a prayer meeting held in a secluded room on Aldersgate Street, London on May 24,1738, It was here that Wesley had a climatic experience of Christ. These are immortal words written by John Wesley on that day -"I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in God for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Wesley returned to the pulpits of the Church of England with fervor, but was soon disbarred because the membership found his teachings unacceptable, At that time Christianity had come to be thought of as the same thing as respectability and responsibility and was not considered a virtue of the poor miners. Wesley gave his life to making religion a vital force in life for all, regardless of a person's status on earth.

He was forced to preach in the open and he was greeted by crowds that grew in number as he became well known, It is said that these open-air preachings launched the Methodist movement in the world. Wesley was not content, though, to sway the great crowds with eloquence - he wanted to form groups for further instruction, This he accomplished by selecting individuals in each crowd to become leaders in their areas.

John Wesley felt clear as to his theoretical right to ordain if he chose, but held back this right for many years because he did not wish to sever the ties of thousands of people bound to the Church of England. However; the situation in America, caring little for the Church of England, brought things to a head in 1783, when the peace treaty was signed. Wesley ordained Thomas Coke, Thomas Vasey and Richard Whatcoat so that the Methodist-Episcopal Church could begin in America. Francis Asbury was later ordained by the three bishops and also became a leader of Methodism in the new world. On Christmas day, 1784, at Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore, Maryland, the church was officially formed.

From the famous Christmas conference in which 63 preachers were present, came the first Methodist Discipline, a plan to organize the colonies into conferences, sections and circuits.

In 1796, six annual conferences were formed in America which were New England, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Virginia, Western and South Carolina. Preachers were assigned to circuits within a conference and were paid $80 per year, which was considered an allowance, not a salary. They did not have churches, but usually met with small groups in homes or taverns. The circuits were vast in territory and the preachers in most cases were young bachelors, since they rode horses and were away for long periods of time. They came to be known as "Circuit Riders" and one historian tells us of the quip that circulated frequently about the new homesteaders who could expect the first sound he would hear was his axe felling a tree and the second was a greeting from a circuit rider.

A second significant contribution to the growth of the Methodist church in the United States was the advent of the camp meeting. These meetings developed because of a distinct need of the frontier people for religion.

The camp meetings also proved to be a Godsend as people would come from miles away carrying provisions and bedding to make possible a stay of a week or longer. The camp meetings were particularly suited for the Methodist preachers, since they were already mobile. However, the bishops of the church soon found out that some preachers were more adept than others at the sort of message a large crowd would respond to. Consequently, they were sent to the meetings to help the local ministers in their circuits. When the camp meetings were over the people went back to their homesteads, they were not left to their own spiritual resources. The Methodist system made it possible for the preachers in the local circuit to follow those who had indicated a spiritual reawakening and tie them permanently with the Methodist church, thus spreading the religion further. Also at the end of the camp meetings, many times permanent buildings were erected and used as church where brush arbors were once used.

As the territory and frontier of the United States expanded ever westward, so did Methodism and the circuit riders who would travel with groups of wagon trains. The fact that Oregon and Washington are now a part of our nation, instead of a part of Canada, is largely the result of the efforts of Methodist missionaries who effectively persuaded Americans to move to the territory. The lure of gold has always been a chief motif in human history and people invaded California in 1849 when the metal was discovered at Sutter's Mill. The throng of people were accompanied by many Methodist preachers who arrived by land and by sea around Cape Horn. They immediately began to establish circuits and to build churches - to serve the people with tremendous success.

Some decades previous to the discovery of gold and the settlement of the west, the Methodist church was struggling with the question of slavery. Some 17 years before the beginning of the Civil War, in 1844, the church split and the churches in the North retained the name, the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the churches in the South adopted the name, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. This action was generally regarded as a sinister prophecy of the "irrepressible conflict" in the life of the nation. War came in 1861, and in every way possible, the ministry and membership of both the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, threw themselves into the struggle. Both churches, particularly the church in the South, suffered so very much during the war. Religious progress was stifled and set back but after the war, both the churches recovered quickly due to the fact that the years immediately preceeding 1860 were years of unusual religious revival and awakening.

The subject of unification of the two churches began in 1874; but it was not until 1939 that an agreement was made and ratified along with the Methodist Protestant Church to join together to form the Methodist Church. In 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren merged and our church then became the United Methodist Church, making it the largest Protestant denomination in the world.

The History of Methodism in Louisiana is a fascinating one. The tales of the heroic adventure of the homespun clad preachers, who were the pioneer circuit riders, who preached wherever they found a congregation in the simple meeting houses or the rude cabin homes, constitute an inspiring narrative. Their "appointments" covered a wide area, but they were faithful to their task and through them the simple but profound precepts of the Bible became so real that they were accepted by their hearers as the rules of daily living. The American ideals of freedom, justice, and brotherhood were emphasized by these early Methodist preachers and today leaders of the state and nation cherish these ideals because of the influence of those pioneer churchmen.

In 1804 Lorenzo Dow, the first recorded Methodist preacher in the state opened the trail of the intinerant ministry of Louisiana. He and other pioneers swept forward in everwidening circles until a new empire of faith was established in the bayous of south Louisiana and the hills of north Louisiana.

Dow, did not record where he preached in Louisiana, but John G. Jones, who wrote about Dow in the history of the Mississippi Conference reported that Dow went to the Attakapas County, South of Opelousas.

Opelousas was the location of a Methodist society established by Elisha Bowman in 1806. Learner Blackman, the first presiding elder of the Mississippi District which included all the Methodist activity in Mississippi and Louisiana, wrote about going to Opelousas in August, 1806, with Bowman and administering the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

The Opelousas United Methodist Church was referred to as the "Mother Church of Methodism in Louisiana" by Pastor Albert A. Collins in 1947 when the Louisiana Annual Conference met there to celebrate one hundred years as a conference.

The Louisiana Methodist Conference today has nine districts, 576 churches, and approximately 133,303 members.

The first known Methodist Church near Zachary was organized in 1861, according to early records found in the East Baton Rouge Parish Court House. It is evident meetings took place before this date and there was a need for a permanent church.

In 1861, James C. Knox and his wife Mary Smith Knox donated four acres of property for a Methodist Episcopal Church South. This property was located on the Old Bayou Sara Road on the east side, just opposite the Springfield Road, later named the Irene Road and now Carney Road.

The church was named Pipkin's Chapel in honor of Rev. Barnabas Pipkin. Rev. Pipkin was licensed to preach at Regan's Church in Pulaski County, Georgia in the fall of 1818. In 1827, he was the Presiding Elder of the Greensburg District and resided in St. Helena Parish. At the conference of 1828 he was made Presiding Elder and put in the district which embraced counties from Natchez, Mississippi on the north, to Baton Rouge on the south, the Mississippi River on the west and the Pearl River on the east. While serving this district he reached the people of the Zachary and Baker area, and organized the First Methodist Church here. Rev. Pipkin died on the 11th day of May 1978, aged eighty-five years at his residence in St. Helena Parish.

Pipkin Chapel provided a facility for administering the spiritual needs of the people of Zachary and Baker areas. There were lively protracted meetings attended by members from all denominations. After years of struggling to remain in existence Pipkin's Chapel disbanded in 1896.

In 1889, Zachary became a Village and the prospects of establishing a Methodist Church became favorable. The membership of Pipkin's Chapel began to decline and with loss of members the church soon closed.

When Pipkin Chapel closed, Mr. Robert S. Knox bought the property from the church and later sold it to the Magnolia Grove Baptist Church. This church still exists today and is located on the historical site on the Old Bayou Sara Road just opposite the Carney Road.

A large number of the members from Pipkin's Chapel became involved in organizing a new church in Zachary. This movement assured the birth of Zachary United Methodist Church 100 years ago.

Early records found in the East Baton Rouge Parish Court House show that Mrs. Emily Smith, widow of Benjamin Sandiford sold and fully guaranteed the title unto the President of the Board of Trustees of Zachary Methodist Episcopal Church South, Louisiana Conference and their successors in office; two acres more or less. This sale was made and accepted for and in consideration of the sum of ($100.00) One Hundred dollars - Fifty dollars of which Mrs. Sandiford acknowledges she had received in cash, This record was recorded on the 17th day of October, 1896. The record states this title is made to remedy defects of a title made on the 7th day of April, 1890. Searching the old court records could not find a copy of the 1890 deed.

This was witnessed by Thomas J. Upton (minister), Emily Sandiford (X), J. A. Wiliams, President of the Board; Messrs. Samuel W. Lilley and J. M. Loudon, Notary Public.

Thus we have our beloved Zachary United Methodist Church, one hundred and eleven years 1890-2001 and with God's grace and love will endure forever as long as time in eternity.

The Louisville, New Orleans and Texas RR Company, completed 456 miles of track connecting the cities of New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee, in 1884. The company built stations at frequent intervals to encourage and promote commerce throughout the area. Selected as one of these sites was the former farm of Mr. Darrel Zachary. A depot was constructed and occupied in 1885, and designated the Zachary Station. Several merchants from Port Hudson relocated near the railroad tracks, seeking to improve their business. Their immediate success became apparent and other entrepreneurs soon followed, establishing the community of Zachary.

In 1889, Zachary was incorporated as a town, and citizens wanted to organize a church. They were already holding prayer meetings and had organized a Sunday afternoon Sunday School in homes. About this time an itinerant Methodist preacher Mr. Norwood, visited the community to lead a protracted series of meetings. The services were housed in a brush arbor constructed on a plot of land owned by Mrs. Emily Sandiford,

Because of the interest shown, these individuals along with other members of Pipkin's Chapel joined together to establish the Zachary United Methodist Church in 1890. Mrs. Emily Sandiford sold two acres of land to the church and the first church was built by 1891. Rev. J. T. Leggett was appointed as the first minister. Rev. Leggett married Miss Kate Brown a local girl. A parsonage was completed for the couple and Rev. Leggett served the church for two additional years.

The early records of 1895-1900 show there were 137 members. Throughout the records of the church, an individual can see the ups and downs, the triumphs and failures, joys and sorrows that have endured, both the church and the United States,

On October 12, 1896, the Rev. T. J. Upton states in the minutes of the quarterly conference, "The church in this charge is I think on rising ground. Congregations are good and attentive at both morning and evening services." These same records show that the preacher was paid $480 per annum and that Zachary was the only church he served. Later, Slaughter was added to the charge, and still later the Ethel Church, forming a three point charge.

On December 17, 1898, just two years after the first statement, the Rev, Upton writes "Since our last session we have continued against the yellow fever panic and the business prostration of the country and still survive., Financial problems were evidently continuing in 1905 as the P.C. (preacher in charge) of that date, Rev. L.C. Wilson states, "Finances are somewhat behind what they were last year, but the fall off in collections is due more to the scarcity of money than the lack of interest in the church."

The following year on March 26 we get an entirely different view of the church from another minister, Rev. Robert 0, Weir, who writes, "The attendance on preaching services are fairly good, though it might be better. The prayer meetings are poorly attended. Few of our members are willing to shoulder the cross and lead in public prayer."

Some records of the church are incomplete and others are not available at all for the years of 1907 to 1925. It is possible that some were destroyed in the fire of 1914, but we do know that World War I was staged in 1918 and we know that the church felt the impact of the conflict. The Rev. B.D. Watson, on January 11, 1925, pens this statement to the quarterly conference, "We have been cordially received at the parsonage. We found a nice pounding by the Ladies Aid of Zachary for which we are very thankful and pay God's blessings to abide with the Aid." It is noted that in this year of increasing prosperity, the salary of the minister who was then serving both Zachary and Slaughter was $960 per year.

Prosperity continued for the nation as well as for the church until 1929, when the fall of the stock market signaled the beginning of the the "Great Depression." Rev. Dan F. Anders wrote on May 21, 1933, "The spiritual condition of the church is fine, the financial condition is not so good."

Conditions began to change according to a statement by Rev. J. Cude Rousseaux, P.C. written on March 15, 1936. "The work moved along harmoniously and the outlook is hopeful for a fruitful year. There is a beautiful spirit of cooperation with the officials of the church and the minister." Records indicate that allowances for the preacher this year had risen to $1,200.

World War II began in Europe in 1938, and some of our young men began entering the armed forces in 1939. The lend-lease program began to furnish aid to the Allied forces. War related plants and factories began to appear in the Baton Rouge area, which brought many dollars into a then agricultural economy. Rev. J.E. Hearn, P.C. on September 15, 1940 wrote, "This has been a very good quarter with our church. The spiritual life of the church seems to be very good, and attendance has been very good through the summer months."

On December 21,1941, the Rev. S.J. McLean reported that the finances of the church had been provided in such a manner that relieved the pastor of any worry on that score. A report again by Rev. McLean on September 14, 1941 revealed that the church had received 22 new members during the year.

Later that year in December, the United States declared war on Japan and Germany and our area, as well as the Zachary Methodist Church, changed forever. The Board of Stewards requested that the Zachary church be designated a charge, and that a young minister be assigned to the church. This request was granted, and the Rev. B.A. Galloway came to Zachary to serve five years.

This was the beginning of real growth in all areas of the church, even though so many of our young men, were away serving our country throughout the world. A building program began during Rev. Galloway's pastorate, and is continuing today. The membership of the church grew with each passing year, and all services and special affairs were well attended.

The war was over in 1945, and some thought that prosperity would end, but history has proven these prophets to be incorrect. However, the remaining history has by no means been without problems, as we note that Mr. J.H. Rhodes, reporting to the quarterly conference on October 4,1946, "Sunday school attendance was low this quarter because of the polio epidemic."

The advent of television became a real problem for the church beginning in the early 50's, affecting particularly the attendance at the evening services. Rev. James W. Ailor, then pastor, used to quip, "Our people seem to rather have the Toast of the Town (Ed Sullivan) than the Bread of Life."

Celebrating 111 years in the year of 2001, Zachary United Methodist Church has a membership roll of 760.

Mr. R. Preston Kennedy, Chairman of the Centennial Committee says, 1990 was a colossal milestone in our existence as an organized church of the community. We need to begin to think not only in the achievements of the past, but also of the opportunities that lie ahead for our church in a world desperately in need of the teachings of Jesus Christ."

Dr. I. A. Williams
Joshua A. Rhodes
George B. Brown
John W. Shelmire
John N. Lipscomb
William B. Townsend
Dr. J. B. Shelmire
B. L. Lilley
J. A. Montegudo
Mrs. E. H. Netterville
Jane Webb
Ethel Bennett
Lizzie Troth
Philip Carpenter
Willie Saunders
Weslev Carnenter
Thomas Doty
Ella Doty
Victoria Montegudo
A. W. Montegudo
Helen T. Lipscomb
J. D. Nettles
Mrs. M. E. Nettles
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Nettles
James E. Brooks
Minerva Wlaters
E. H. Whitaker
Thomas H. Sale
Mrs. P. E. Eppinger
Mary J. H, Wyman
Willie Wise
Edna Wise
Eddie Williams
Kate Williams
Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Ayer
Mrs. J. M. Lipscomb
Mary Montegudo
Addie Rhodes
Julia Carney
David Rogillio
Eunice Rogillio
Mary M. Troth
Sylvester Troth
Melissa Odom
John L. Walker
Mrs. A. E. Lipscomb
Bridget Lary
James C. Loudon
George W. Brian
S. C. Brian
Julia R. Knox
Mary L. Knox
Eula Lee Knox
Mrs. S. Ratcliff
Grave Medlark
Fannie Mary Rhodes
Virginia Loudon
Lizzie Loudon
Rosa Williams
Lou Williams
Addie Williams
Ollie Williams
Mamie Lary
Leona Lary
Mrs. Saunders
Oscar Roberts
Bettie Upton
Wright Lilley
Minnie Whittington
E. J. Whittington
Mrs. E. C. Borsky
Bertha Sale
Sarah T. Walters
Mary Walters
Nannie J. Walters
Mary Roark
Ollie Umbuhagen
Willie McGuirt
Susie Hunt
Celia Shelmire
Jessie Story
Annie Van Osdell
Willie Tucker
R. S. Troth
Mary Wynn
J. L. Walls
L. L. Roberts (L.P.)
Marion McLain
M. W. Carney
Mattie H. Carney
Eunice Carney
Emiline Carney
Jennie Carney
B. S. Lilley
Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rhodes
Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Rogillio
Mrs.,T. J. Annison
A. R. Annison
Mrs. T. G. Rogillio
J. P. Bentley
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Carruth
Minnie L. Loudon
Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Lipscomb
Mrs. N. A. Thoms
Addie Rhodes
N. U. Brown
Hallie Methvain
May Saunders
Eddie Saunders
Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hosea
Louis Rhodes
Jessie Rhodes
Rebecca Hosea
Mr. and Mrs. George Borsky
W. W. Ayer
Edna Wicker
James Rhodes
Elbert Rhodes
Mr. and Mrs. James Loudon
John Dickson
Maggie Dickson
Ethel Methvain
Willie Methvain
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Carpenter
Mary Loudon
Stella Lary
John Troth
Mollie Rhodes
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Carpenter
Mary A. Carpenter
Willie Watkins
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Woodward
J. C. Knox
D. S. Kirkwood
Amanda Kirkwood
S. W. Lilley
Phebe A. Dury

During the first 50 years of the history of the Zachary United Methodist Church, 26 men were appointed to serve as pastor. This great number can be easily explained for our church began as a very small congregation in the brand new town of Zachary, itself having incorporated in 1889. Our church was also a member of the circuit of 3 churches (Zachary, Slaughter, and Ethel) and one minister was assigned the responsibilities of serving each assembly to the best of his abilities.

It was not until 1941 that our church became of sufficient size to become a charge, and the Rev. Benedict A. Galloway was appointed to serve on a fulltime basis.

Rev. Galloway remained at our church for some 5 years which is still a record for continuous service equaled by the Rev. James W. Ailor and the Rev. J. David Corley. The last 50 years of ministerial service to our congregation averaged three and one half years.

MISSISSIPPI CONFERENCE, WOODVILLE DISTRICT, 1889-1894.

    1889                Pipkin & Zachary        J. Hebert Woodward

    1890-1894     Zachary                         J. T. Leggett (with J. J. Smiley in 1890)

LOUISIANA CONFERENCE, BATON ROUGE DISTRICT, 1894-1976

    1894                Zachary                        James 0. Bennett

    1895-1898     Zachary                         Thomas J. Upton

1899         Zachary                         Andrew J. Notestine

    1900-1901     Zachary                         John Barnard Cassity

    1902               Zachary                         Robert Andrew Davis

    1903-1904     Zachary                         Luther Cavel Wilson

    1906-(Jan)     Zachary                         R.O. Weir

    1906-(Dec.)   Zachary                         Eugene L. Cargill

    1907-1909     Zachary & Slaughter    William D. Kleinschmidt

    1910               Zachary                         Henry B. Perritt

    1911-1914     Zachary                         Jacob D. Harper

    1915               Zachary                         Raleigh V. Fulton

    1916-1917     Zachary                         James Jefferson Kelly

    1918               Zachary & Slaughter     Lastie N. Hoffpauir,

    1919-1922     Zachary & Slaughter     Benjamin Harris Andrews

    1923               Zachary & Slaughter     Thomas J. Warlick

    1924               Zachary & Slaughter     Bennett Daniel Watson

    1925               Zachary                         Joseph Henry Bowden

    1926               Zachary                         Harry William May

    1927-1930     Zachary & Slaughter    Ardis Morris Wynne

    1931-1933     Zachary                         Dan Frank Anders

    1934-1935     Zachary                         John Cudd Rousseaux

    1936               Zachary                         David Tarver

    1937-1939    Zachary                         John Elton Hearn

    1940             Zachary                          Spencer J. McLean

    1941-1945                                           Benedict A. Galloway

1946-1949                                               Kenneth G. McDowell

1950-1952                                             James F. Stone

1952-1956                                             James W. Ailor

1957-1960                                             Robert Ed Taylor

1961-1964                                             James S. Jones

1965-1968                                             Bob L. Lawton

1969-1970                                             Douglas T. Williams

1971-1976                                             Robert I. Galatas

LOUISIANA CONFERENCE, BATON ROUGE/HAMMOND DISTRICT, 1977-1989

 1977-1978                                         Roy L. Garrett

1979-1982                                         Calvin 0. Lapuyade

1983-1984                                         Gilbert H. Wade, Jr.

1984-1989                                         John David Corley

LOUISIANA CONFERENCE, BATON ROUGE DISTRICT, 1989-

1989-1995                                         James W. Mitchell

1995-2000                                         DeWitt M. ‘Pat’ Ginn

2000- 2003                                        Alan Dee Einsel

2003 -                                                 Gregory R. Davis

The first church building was built in 1891 on the east side of the property and was a one room frame building painted white, as was customary for the day. The second building, a parsonage, was built in 1892 directly opposite the sanctuary on the west side of the property. It also was a white frame building that housed a score of ministers and their families until 1951. The home was refurbished and remodeled many times during the many years.

The first church building had a roof made of wooden shingles and was heated by a wood burning stove. On a Sunday afternoon in March, 1914, about 3:00 PM. while services were being held, a young black girl appeared at the rear of the church. All of the worshipers were surprised and then shocked when she said, "your church is burning down." Everyone was able to vacate the building without injury and the pews and furniture were removed, but the building itself was a total loss. The fire was started by sparks which ignited the roof and the wind was also a contributing factor, since it was unusually strong that day. According to an eye witness, several other nearby homes caught fire also because of the wind. However, these other fires were extinguished by the fire department without a great deal of damage.

The members of the Zachary Methodist Church, in the wake of this tragic loss, joined together (as they always have when the need was apparent) in an intense effort to build a new church as soon as possible.  This was accomplished, in record time, and a new edifice arose on the same site in the same year! During the construction of the new sanctuary, services were held in the Presbyterian Church. The building cost $1600 and it too was a one room building that had folding doors on the west side that were used for Sunday School classes, or they could be opened to afford more room for preaching when the need arose. There were two aisles, one on each side of the pews and the floor was slanted towards the pulpit, allowing the worshipers a better view of the speaker. Behind the pulpit were two chairs and pews were behind these chairs placed there for the choir.

This is the second sanctuary of the Zachary United Methodist Church. It was built in 1914 at a cost of $1,600.

This building was used as a sanctuary until 1949, when it was moved a short distance, connected to the educational building with a walk way and converted to make additional space for educational purposes. The building was sold in 1957 to Mr. J.M. Bond upon occupancy of the new brick building. The building was resold to a black congregation and is still being used as a church on the corner of Baker and New Weis streets, The pews and other furniture was sold in October, 1949 to Day's Church near Greensburg for $800.

The cast iron bell was not included in the sale to Mr. Bond and proved to be a great problem to remove. The bell was accidentally dropped from its high position in the belfry and everyone was amazed that it did not break. After months of indecision, the bell was placed upon a marble and brick structure to the west of the present sanctuary. When the bell was a part of the second church building, it was used to signal the end of Sunday School. The bell was also used for funerals, tolling the approach and departure of death processions. The bell is now used every Sunday morning and on other occasions and remains a proud possession of our church.

This is the third Sanctuary of Zachary Methodist Church completed in 1949.

The next building acquired by the church was a frame educational building that was located almost directly behind the then church building. The Olive Branch Church was disbanded in 1932 and their building was given to Zachary. It was dismantled and the lumber was used to construct a building for the Sunday School department. The building had one large room in the front on the east side that was used for assemblies. The rest of the building was divided into room for Sunday School classes. There was a hall down the middle with rooms on each side and a door at the rear. This building was also sold after the completion of the new educational building in 1957.

The next building project, which signaled the beginning of a great construction program, was embarked upon in 1942 when the congregation purchased $3200 in war bonds set aside for improved facilities. It was not certain at the time whether a sanctuary or an educational building would receive first priority; but during the intervening years it became apparent that a new and larger sanctuary was needed most. This first step was began during the pastorate of Rev. B. A. Galloway, but a building committee was not designated until 1946, when Rev. Kenneth McDowell was appointed to Zachary. Mr. J.H. Rhodes was Chairman of the committee.

The building committee received several bids for the construction of the building, but the total cost was considered excessive for the then much smaller church. However, the committee did decide to proceed in stages, paying for the work as it was completed. Several contractors were used in the construction, including Ray Barnett, Bob Rogillio and Denham and Sons. In March, 1949, when the building was virtually completed, $5,000 of the remaining debt was paid with the proceeds of a livestock sale suggested by W. H. Wicker, a member of the building committee. Livestock was donated by Zacharians of all faiths for the event that was held at the Zachary Stockyards. The event proved so successful, that it became a model for other churches to follow.

The solid oak furniture, costing $4,000 at the time, was donated by Mr. and Mrs. James H. Rhodes and the 10 beautiful stained glass windows, then valued at $3,000, were given by other members of the church. Funds for the organ and piano were acquired through special donations,

The $40,000 edifice was dedicated in September 1949, by Dr. Paul Martin, Bishop of the Louisiana Conference. Rev. K. G. McDowell was the minister, and the ceremony was attended by an overflow congregation. The town of Zachary was growing and, consequently, the Methodist Church was also, So shortly after the completion of the debt free sanctuary, a building fund was established to construct a new parsonage. The church was badly in need of a new home for its pastors, and the need was evidently apparent to the membership since the project was quickly completed in March, 1951, at a cost of $14,000. The construction was begun under the ministership of Rev. James Stone, who lived in a rented home while the home was being built. The building was dedicated on November 1954, marking it debt free. Rev. James W. Ailor was the minister at the time, and Bishop Martin made his second dedication address at the church. The old parsonage was sold to John L. Kennedv. Sr. for $1.000, dismantled and the materials used to build a home on Church Street.

The third phase of the building program was to be an educational building which would compliment the sanctuary architecturally. A new educational building was thought to be needed more than a new church prior to the final decision. The need for additional space for education purposes was indicated by a proposal made to the then Board of Stewards to purchase tents for additional classes. Records do not tell us of the outcome of the proposal, but a temporary solution was evidently found.

The building committee was named in March 1956, with Mr. J. I. Daniel, Jr., the chairman. In November 1956, a bid in the amount of $36,800 by Mr. Jack Denham to build the educational building was submitted and accepted. In this same month, the Board of Stewards agreed to borrow $20,000 from a local bank to complete the financing of the building. The contractor began work in December 1956, and the building was occupied in May 1957. The building debt was completely cancelled in late 1962, and it was officially dedicated under the pastorate of Rev. James L. Jones.

The administrative building was completed in February 1971, at a cost of $37,000 and dedicated on October 13,1974. Mr. R. D. Norwood was the chairman of the building committee and Mr. Jack Denham was again the contractor. The building, which afforded space for the choir, the minister and other officials, and the nursery department, was dedicated while Rev. Robert Galatas was the minister.

Another phase of building was the renovation of our present sanctuary in 1981-1982 under the pastorate of Rev. Calvin Lapuyade. The sanctuary appears from the outside exactly as it did 40 years ago, except for the lighted cross on the roof and the plastic enclosures surrounding the stained glass windows.

The interior was extensively renovated and remodeled. The walls were repaired and repainted. The present chandeliers were affixed and new carpeting installed. The pulpit and choir areas were modified to allow an improved view as well as to conceal some sound devices.

In 1985, Mr. and Mrs. R. 0.  McCraine donated two lots in the City of Zachary for the construction of a new parsonage. These lots were exchanged in agreement with the building contractor and a large, modern home was built on Cypress Street. This home is now occupied by our residing pastor. This action permitted the utilization of the old parsonage as a combination office and music facility. This phase of building was completed under the pastorate of Rev. J. David Corley.

The original land area has remained the same since the original sale in 1890, with the exception of a strip of land bought by the church in 1967. This addition fronts on what is now Young Street and continues to Rollins Road. This land has been used from time to time by the young people of the church for recreation. Young Street was non-existent until after World War II when the three homes now standing were built. The street on the west side of property was improved by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board and is now maintained by the City of Zachary. A garage used by a number of ministers prior to March 1946, when it was abandoned, was located behind the first parsonage, and a fenced garden area was adjacent to the garage. Records show there was a barn nearby at one time.

The lovely garden of flowers between the sanctuary and the educational building was landscaped by Mrs. B. B. Lane, Jr., in memory of her husband the late Dr. B. B. Lane, Jr., our beloved doctor for many years and member of the Board of Stewards. Mrs. Lane purchased all the shrubbery and flowers and supervised the plantings.