Lane Chapel C.M.E. Church

The history of the Lane Chapel C. M. E. Church in Homer, LA was researched by Rev. Joseph A. Johnson and Mrs. Mattie L. Washington in 1944 and Mrs Clara Walker in 1976 and 1983. The records of the early years are lost due to the inefficiency and lack of ability to keep records. The earliest date of written records available was 1905.

A frame building was erected in 1905 and named Lane Chapel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. It was named for Bishop Lane, one of the Bishops appointed in 1870 at Jackson, TN, establishing the C. M.E. Southern Episcopal Church. A church had existed here for unknown years before the 1905 record.

The records show the building committee was composed of:

	Mr. J. Ivory		Mr. G. I. Taylor
	Mr. W. M. Hardy		Mr. J. Jackson
	Mr. C. C. Cooper		Mr. R. M. Young
	Mr. J. E. Bullock		Mr. A. Jackson
	Mr. Joe Amos		Rev. A. J. Brown (Pastor)
	Mr. G. I. Bullock		Mr. W. D. Brooks (Elder)

Mr. Dayton Sims joined the church and was baptized in 1905 by Rev. J. T. Speed, Pastor. After completion of the church, the first two men to be converted and baptized were Mr. B. F. Blackmon and Mr. H. Bullock. The pastor was Rev. A. J. Brown.

Nine ministers served the church from 1907-1929. They were:

	Rev. J. T. Speed		Rev. A. J. Brown
	Rev. J. B. Lindsey		Rev. W. D. Booker
	Rev. H. Rodgers		Rev. J. E. Hunt
	Rev. E. D. Duncan		Rev. L. C. M. Rawlston

Church revival services are held annually the second Sunday in September through the following week. Mrs. Gladys Candler and Carolyn P. Thompson are the pianists. Mrs. Walker is choir director with 17 choir members. They use the Methodist Hymnal printed by the United Methodist Church.

The youth program consists of the Junior Church, Junior Ushers, Junior Choir, and Christian Youth Fellowship. Miss Annie L. White is in charge of the youth.

The frame building was replaced by a brick building in 1929. It was the first brick church building for blacks in Claiborne Parish. Rev. C. L. Jones, pastor, promoted the new church building. Records are lost as to the building committee and fund raising projects.

Following Rev. C. L. Jones were: Rev. F. L. Lewis - later became first Louisiana native to become Bishop Rev. W. D. Booker Rev. L. M. Stockbridge Rev. J. B. Thomas - transferred in 1947 and returned to serve as Presiding Elder in 1954-1958 Rev. J. M. Ellis Rev. I. Garland Penn Rev. J. C. Harris Rev. J. A. Johnson, Sr. Rev. I. S. Dyers - 1948-1949; Presiding Elder, 1951-1954; he died during his administration as Elder and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Rascoe Rev. C. H. Shyne - 1949-1951; Presiding Elder, 1958-1964

The Louisiana Conference merged the Homer District into the Minden District, and it has remained that way. The three Districts are Monroe, Minden, and Shreveport.

Mrs. Mattie Washington was a teacher in the Homer Colored Schools. She started when the school was held in one of the churches. Then she taught at Ebenezer Baptist Church Elementary School in the primary grades. Mrs. Walker was in her class in 1923. Mrs. Washington was very active in Lane Chapel C.M.E. She advanced to the job of Connectional Council Treasurer, Louisiana Conference and was President of Louisiana Conference Women's Missionary. She died in 1961.

Rev. C. L. Jones was pastor in 1951-1952 and Presiding Elder in 1944-1949. Rev. J. S. Caper was pastor in 1952-1954. During his time, he began renovating the church. Rev. J. C. Gaggles, pastor during the years 1954-1958, promoted the building of the parsonage that is in use today. He became Presiding Elder of the Minden District, served 20 years, and retired after the conference in 1982.

Rev. D. S. Douglas was pastor during 1964-1969 and renovated the sanctuary, installing new pews, windows, and pulpit furniture. He transferred to the Tennessee Conference. Rev. Cleveland Cage was pastor in 1969-1970. Rev. Larkin was pastor in 1970-1972. He introduced budget reforms. During his time of service, a new piano was purchased. Rev. T. M. Brim was pastor in 1972-1973 during which he promoted a building fund and the purchase of an organ.

Rev. C. L. Willis became pastor in 1975. Bishop Joseph A. Johnson visited the church and told Rev. Willis, "Willis, I want you to build a new church." The church members answered, "How can we? We are so few in number." Rev. Willis answered, "Let us pray; the Lord will help us." This showed what a few people could do with the help of God and the right leadership. The congregation expressed it thus, "We have come this far by faith leaning on the Lord."

The beginning of the end of the old brick church was when four women had an idea. They were: Lennie Buggs, Hester Green, Lafaye Jackson, and Annie L. White. They invited the Rev. A. N. Reed of Pine Hill community to Lane Chapel for a "Texas in Louisiana Day". He was formerly from Homer and was pastor of a large church in Dallas, TX. He later became District Superintendent of the Shreveport District. The revival promoted a good start for the building fund for the new church building.

Bishop Johnson allowed the old church to remain until May 24, 1976. Then he told Rev. Willis that it should be torn down in the manner it was built, "with grace and dignity". He said that there would be an Annual Conference Day at Lane Chapel on May 23, 1976, and he would preach the last sermon in the old building. This would be followed by dinner on the ground. No meetings were to be held after that Sunday in the old church. Howard Lumber Co. would send workers on Monday to begin tearing the church down. And so it was.

After approximately five months of the congregation meeting in the Baptist Educational Building, they were ready to enter the new church building. On Sunday, October 24, 1976, the Service of Consecration opened the new Lane Chapel C.M. E. Church for worship. Led by Bishop Joseph A. Johnson and members of the Louisiana Conference, it formally became the congregation's home.