Magnolia Presbyterian Church

In 1860, W. H. Roane, a Presbyterian minister and attorney, came to Magnolia, Mississippi on horseback as a missionary of the Presbyterian Church and, with his wife, opened Roane's Academy in a frame house, which was also their home.  The Academy served children of Magnolia as a private school until 1873 when it was converted to a public school.

In August, 1868, six ladies of Magnolia petitioned the Pisgah Presbyterian Session of Summit, Mississippi to enroll them under their care as the Magnolia Presbyterian Congregation.

On March 20, 1875, a petition was sent to the Presbytery of New Orleans asking for a church organization.  The Presbytery granted the request and a Commission was appointed to visit Magnolia on April 23, 1875.  The church was organized as the Presbyterian Church of Magnolia with just eleven members.

For seven years the church enjoyed the hospitality of the Methodist, sharing part-time worship services in their church.  In July, 1879, the members decided to build, and a congregational meeting was held on August 17, 1879.  Five trustees were elected and instructed to at once secure a lot and make plans toward a church building.

Within a month the trustees had secured the lot where the church is now located.

They selected as a model for their building the then new Canal Street Presbyterian Church of New Orleans.

The first service in the new building was the Spring meeting of the New Orleans Presbytery on April 12, 1882.

On August 17, 1890, at 4 PM, members and friends gathered to dedicate the church building to God, all debts having been paid.  It was a day of great rejoicing.

On April 10, 1901, by order of the General Assembly, the Magnolia church was transferred to the Presbytery of Mississippi.  The report to the Spring meeting in Port Gibison, in April, 1902 showed 43 active members and 18 on the retired list.

In 1906 the manse was built and ready for occupancy.  In 1909-10 the assembly room was added to the church, and in 1950 the two-story annex, with kitchen, was added to provide more Sunday School rooms and better service facilities.

As a fitting climax to the first century of this church, the South Mississippi Presbytery held its Spring meeting here on April 15, 1975.

The Magnolia Presbyterian Church, in its second century, continues as a beacon to those of the Presbyterian faith and to all who would know God through His Son.