My Town Monday - a Church Now United

The Old:


Kynett Church was part of the Central Jurisdiction (Ky. Tenn. Conference) which in reality was the Methodist Church for Black Americans. Shortly after the Civil War, the Kynett Church was established and named for Alpha Jefferson Kynett, a leading executive for Church Extension of Methodism.










In 1844, as a prelude to our tragic American Civil War, the Methodist Episcopal Church was divided over the issue of slavery and the local church here in La Grange became part of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Sadly, this branch of Methodism in America approved of the wicked institution of slavery, and fostered racism.





The New:



Beginning in 1968 both churches shared the same pastor. Because of tremendous population growth in Oldham County (which doubled in population from 14,000 to 28,000 people between 1970 to 1980), the La Grange UMC experienced tremendous growth and simply ran out of room. The church voted in November, 1993 to relocate. New land (10.7 acres) was purchased in November, 1994 at a total cost of $150,000 and the land was fully paid for by December, 1995.

Early in 1995, a study was made by both churches and by a uniting committee to pursue the possibility of uniting the two local congregations in La Grange. After much research, prayer, study, sharing and dialogue, both churches voted in October, 1995 to unite to form the Covenant United Methodist Church and to build together our new church for the new century. In January, 1996, the Covenant United Methodist Church was born!

More information on these churches can be found here.

Both of the older buildings are still in use. The side of the Kynett Church, shown above, is used as a dance studio. The back of the former Kynett Church houses the thrift shop where Junosmom and I volunteer. The other older church now houses county offices, as well as an office of our Congressman.