Central Methodist Church (now Central United Methodist) on Farish Street was first established in 1889, and the first building constructed in 1890. The current building was constructed in 1966. In keeping with the times, it is of Modern style, and the delineator (apparently, that means the person who drew the floor plans) was the pastor, Wendell P. Taylor (Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic Resources Inventory database). While I am mentioning MDAH/HRI, let me just say that after spending hours in research on Louisiana and Texas for the Living New Deal project, Mississippi wins hands down for ease and thoroughness of online archives! It's good to know Mississippi is first at something in the region. Although Arkansas has a fairly efficient system, I find much greater difficulty with it that the superb system done by our MDAH pros. Not that anyone reading this most likely is needing comparative data, but in order of online holdings, ease of location of material, and usefulness of the material, rankings are #1 Mississippi, #2 Arkansas, #3 Louisiana, #4 Texas, and #5 Tennessee.
Farish Street is
...historically significant as an economically independent black community, the Farish Street Neighborhood District is the largest such community in the state. (MDAH/HRI)
Although Pastor Taylor drew the floor plan for the building, architects were Godfrey, Bassett, and Pitts, who did work in Vicksburg, Yazoo City, and Starkville. I love the simplicity of the window and canopy, which also reminds me of one of my favorite church windows in Mound Bayou.
Bethel AME, Mound Bayou
Central Methodist is located across the street from Big Apple Inn, where Debra and I enjoyed our apparently famous since 1939 pig ear sandwiches and "smokes" our our recent trip. We have to pass through again tomorrow on our way to Natchez, so I think a detour and a take out is in order!
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