This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

A SHORT HISTORY OF MAIN STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BAY ST .; LOUIS, MISS .
#
One of the coast area's earliest churches, Main Street Uhited >,'* * Methodist Church in Bay St. Louis has had a long and colorful history. Shieldsboro, now Bay St. Louis, was known as a preaching place as early v-as 1842.
This church was organized in I852 by a teacher-preacher, E. D.
Pitts, who established schools in Napoleon and Bay St. Louis. Services were held in a small building at the corner of 2nd and Main streets. The property was given by an outstanding citizen, J. B. Toulme, to the then St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1859*
In 1889, J. V. Toulme, only son of J. B. Toulme, gave the land south of the church for a parsonage which was built in 1892. Rev.
W. G. Forsythe was the first to occupy the building.
The present church building was erected beginning in 1895* In I896 the people were worshipping for the second year in an incomplete building. The church was completed and dedicated by Bishop Charles B. Galloway in 1897, the year a disastrous fire destroyed about half the town. Records show that in 1900 the new building was wired for electricity at a cost of $36. The pastor in 1902 was awarded $375 as salary for his services.
In 1936 a six classroom annex was constructed at the rear of the present sanctuary, Rev. J. Early Gray, pastor. In 19^9 the church bought from Mr. A. C. Exnicious, land with a two story building which was used for educational purposes. With these additions, the church covered nearly all of a city block in the downtown area next to the County Courthouse.
In the 1950's the annex building was renovated and enlarged to contain a pastor's study, a kitchen, dining room, fellowship hall and two dressing rooms. Rev. H. Bufkin Oliver was the pastor.
On Dec. 7, 1952 the Centennial Anniversary was observed with an all day celebration. Bishop Marvin Franklin came for the occasion as did some former pastors and members from out of town.
Our present day parsonage located on 2nd and Timberlane was built in 19o4 and dedicated in 19^7 by Bishop Edward Pendergrass,
Rev. Lamar Martin and family were the first residents.
With the new parsonage, the old one was torn down and an Educational Building costing $90,000 was constructed in it's place in 1973 and dedicated in 1977 by Bishop Mack B. Stokes.
In 1983 a much needed pastor's study was built between the Fellowship Hall and the Education Building}.'Rev. Curtis Moffat was the first pastor to use the study.
* * '
• j
In 1987 a city block on the corner of 2nd and Court Streets	,
was purchased by the church for a parking lot. In 1990-91 it was paved and landscaped.
In 1993 construction of a 93x62 block building costing $350,000 located southeast of the sanctuary was completed. The New Fellowship Hall will be used for many years for multi-purpose activities of both church and community.