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It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

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COAST BUYER'S GUIDE
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In . 1852 fa Methodist^ ?-*.towr>.vvere changed and
Chifrch was organized in-,-Vs we • now know them as
the town of Shieldsboro.?^ Main-' Street United
Records of 185?^show-ifej Methodist.Church in Bay
that" this rcKurch'-was'j»:?Sti touis'.' &
known as St-fJohn’s ^-i^Thisjs one^of the coast
Methodist Churchi Over^-.J area's earliest churches,
the'years the na|nesf'ofCaridwas built on property
both the church.j^nd^the^^'given by John V. Toulme
for that purpose.
By 1871, along with Biloxi, Handsboro, and . Pass Christian, Bay St.Louis was one of the four most prominent preaching places on the Gulf Coast and *the Methodist Church was well attended.
The first parsonage was erected in 1 892, arid the present church building was construction in 1895. It was dedicated by Bishop Charles B Calloway in 1 897, the sameyearthat disastrous $75,000 fire destroyed about half of the town.
The old records show some interesting facts.
In 1896, services were conducted in a building without windows or doors.	In 1900 the
building was wired for electricity - for a cost of S36. The pastor in 1 902,
W W. Cammach, received a commanding ^ salary of $375 for his:, services
One of the strong points of the Methodist Church at the turn of the century was a well-organized woman's society group. The women of the Churchy have worked hard ever>>* since.	.	'
A six-class-roo ni^ annex was built behind the sanctuary in 1936,^ while Rev. J. Early Gray was pastor. This' building was later-converted into Fellowship Hall.
A. C Exnicious gave the church a plot of land adjoining the lot on < which the church stood in 1944. Later a two-story building was purchased from Mr Exnicious for use as an educational building.