141-year-old church to be demolished for traffic roundabout

DENHAM SPRINGS, LA (WAFB) -

A church that sits on the corner in Denham Springs has a short time left standing. Eden Baptist Church, on the corner of Florida Boulevard and Eden Church Road, will be demolished by the state to make room for traffic improvements.

Eden Baptist Church is 141 years old, one of the oldest churches in Livingston Parish.

Three years ago, the church closed its doors and Pastor Willis Easley and Christ's Community Church moved into the building. Prior to that, Easley said his members met at Denham Springs Junior High on Sunday's.

Eighteen months after moving, Easley says they started hearing talk about a roundabout that was going to be built on Eden Church Road and Florida Boulevard.

The state's Department of Transportation and Development held a public hearing, Easley went. He says there he saw pictures of a red line through his sanctuary, when he asked what the line was he says he was told it was the state's right-of-way.

DOTD says the intersection where Eden Baptist sits is too congested. According to the state agency, 23,600 cars travel there each day. A roundabout, or traffic circle, is planned for the intersection to help with congestion and safety. Doing so means the church, which the state now owns, will be demolished.

"In just a few years, kids won't know why they call that Eden Church Road," Easley said.

Easely says he was told his church needed to be out of the building by August 1, 2014.

They started construction on a more permanent location for the church April 1, 2014. It's located on Juban Road, south of I-12.

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141-year-old church to be demolished for traffic roundabout