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CONCURRENT HISTORY OF THE MAIN STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
PART III (1967-1977)
While Rev. A. Lamar Martin was our pastor (1963-68), we had one of the largest and most active MYF groups in the history of our church.
Rev. John Harold Hedrick was our next pastor, but a fatal heart attack brought about the untimely death of this dedicated man of God (Aug 2, 1968). Bishop Edward J. Pendergrass held the funeral.
Rev. Bernard Walton did an excellent job of holding a demoralized congregation together after the famous hurricane, Camille (1969). Not a single family was left unaffected by the hurricane, many suffering great hardships and losses. The church lost quite a few members due to the people moving out of Bay St. Louis.
During Rev. Walton's pastorate the old parsonage behind the church and the old Education Building on the corner of Main and Court Streets were razed and a new Educational Building was constructed (1973)» at a cost of $90,000. At last, Main Street United Methodist Church had an educational building that would house the entire church school under one roof. The building was dedicated during the pastorate of Rev. Gilbert Oliver by Bishop Mack B. Stokes (September 18, 1977). Also in 1977 the church celebrated its 125th anniversary in the new Educational Building. And in the last years of his pastorate the Fellowship Hall was refurbished with lights, wallpaper and flooring. And plans were drawn up to enclose and utilize the space between the Fellowship Hall and the Educational Building.
In more recent years, the population of Hancock County has increased due to the coming of NASA, the Oceanographic Program,
DuPont, the new industries at the Bienville Port, and, many retired people from all sections of the country.
The church is fortunate and most grateful to have so many dedicated Christians to welcome and entwine these newcomers■into our area. And thank you, Newcomers, for joining and helping us make our church a viable community for Christian participation.
Generations of local families have made Main Street Methodist their church home. Children baptized, confirmed, reared in Sunday School, and married here, now see their children and grandchildren following in the tradition envisioned and established by Shieldsboro's early founding fathers to the Glory of God.
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Written by Mrs. William (Alice) Pitcairn Jr.; September 1977 on the occasion of Church Tradition Day.