Lewis Memorial Chapel

Courtesy of The State Historical Society of Missouri Written by Nancy Frazer Meyer in November, 1963

Lewis Memorial Chapel of the Methodist Church at Crescent will mark its 100th anniversary on Sunday (Nov. 10) with a church service at 2:30 pm followed by a tea. The Rev. C.S. Peacocke, current minister, will be the speaker.

The Crescent church was founded in 1863 by Matrom Lewis who came to St. Louis County from Virginia in 1795 and his wife, Elizabeth Darby Lewis, sister of John F. Darby, second Mayor of St. Louis. The Darby family came from North Carolina in 1816. Services were held in the Lewis home, and were believed to be the first Methodist congregation west of the Mississippi, Mrs. Lewis subsequently, though cripples, rode horseback through the hills surrounding the neighborhood in the interest of establishing a formal church.

Old Church

The first church stood about a mile downstream on the Meramec River across from Glencoe near a ford. It remained there until 1895 when, with a grant of land from the Ranken Estate, the church was built in Crescent proper. It was designated as a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and built by their two older sons, Philander P and Rufus A. Lewis. This chapel burned in July 23, 1923 and until the early 30’s the struggling community was unable to replace it. A basement was built first and served as a sanctuary. This served while very little money and donated labor managed to replace the church as nearly like the original as memory and materials would permit. It was rededicated on Oct. 8, 1939. The Rev. Jesse M. Kern, its minister who died this summer, was a tireless worker to have the church rebuilt.

Through community effort of all faiths, ham suppers, apple butter making, rummage sales, small donations and etc. the church is now completely furnished, carpeted, possesses an electric organ and a full equipped kitchen and fellowship hall, which serves as a community meeting place.

In addition to the alter memorial window to the founders, there are ten other stained glass winds with memorial plaques to succeeding generations and those instrumental in the rebuilding effort. Also includes is on to the Rev. Dr. Emory Godbey, the first minister who is famed in Methodist history.

Lewis Memorial Chapel Today

Mrs. Gertrude Lewis Frazer, granddaughter of the founders, still lives in Crescent where she was born and is currently spending the winter in St. Petersburg, Florida. At 83, she is the sole survivor if the third generation. Four fourth generation descendents of the founders live in the area and state. These are Adrian Woods Frazier of St. Louis, Mrs. Charles Everett Driver of Webster Groves, Mrs. Nancy Frazer Meyer of Kirkwood, and Henry Mudd Frazer of Jefferson City. *

General chairman of the celebration on Sunday, to which the public is invited, are Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Kouns and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Walker of Crescent.

* Two others, Daniel Lewis Long and the former Lillian Lewis Long, grandchildren of the third son of Martrom Darby Lewis (Public Administrator of St. Louis for many years) lives in Baltimore, Md.