Our History

1839-1847 The first appointments to the church were Rev. William Stephenson and other circuit riders who served the “Greenwood Circuit” and the “Caddo Parish Circuit” from Arkansas.

1839-1840 The “Methodist Society”of Greenwood, as it was called, met in homes and makeshift log buildings until a small but adequate white frame church was built in 1840 at 7038 Magnolia Street. It had no steeple and no bell.

1841 A diary of W.S. Tomey, a traveling lawyer, states that he “passed the night at Mr. Watson’s two miles from Shreveport. Went next day to Greenwood Church”.

November 9, 1844 In the conveyance records of Caddo Parish, LA and recorded 12/3/1846, is a contract between the building committee in Greenwood, LA and a carpenter named R.H.T. Cratch, to build a church in Shreveport, LA. Thus the First Methodist Church was built in Shreveport.

January 6, 1847 The first session of the Louisiana conference met in Opelousas, LA and recognized the active work of the Greenwood Methodist Church and appointed two preachers to the “Greenwood Circuit” and the “Caddo Parish Circuit” from Arkansas.

1893 A new white frame church with a steeple and bell was built on the same site as the first church, on Magnolia St. Many people thought of it as a “church in the wildwood”. It had red carpet and dark pews which were transferred to the new church in 1916 along with the clear sounding bell.

1916-1928 The third church was built at Magnolia and Church street because they had outgrown the second church. It was two storied and very impressive with high steps to the second story, The first story was used for Sunday School rooms and recreation.

September 28. 1928 The congregation realized their church was burning and they carried as much as possible out including old pews, the pulpit, and the piano.

1929 to present. The present church was built on the same spot with the 1893 bell polished and ringing clearly today. It had lofty ceilings which had to be lowered. It had the same stained windows with same panes having to be replaced due to the storms. The painting of “Christ in Gethsemane” by the late H>E>EDgar of Bethany, La hangs behind the choir loft. Two paintings are on display. One is of the second church which was outgrown by the congregation and was located on 7038 Magnolia from 1893-1918. The other one is the third church which was on the present site from 1916-1928. There is no picture of the first church from 1840-1870 when it burned to the ground.

Our church bell still rings clearly for Sunday School and for the church services. We have suffered wars, fires, depressions, and storms but the doors have never been closed.

In 1989, the church celebrated 150 years with an outdoor picnic and live gospel music. The time capsule was opened which is buried in the church and contents revealed and more was put in for future openings.

In the Fall of 1998 Jack Stutsman, a revered member, initiated a plan to install new stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary of the church. Members, and families of previous members of the Greenwood United Methodist Church were contacted to determine if they wished to dedicate a window to a family member. In all, thirteen windows were subscribed and paid for before the project was begun. The theme was “The Life of Christ”. Mr. Erskin Mitchell of Baton Rouge, LA was selected to design and install the windows. After many months of preparation the windows were dedicated in November 2000.