Latest Weather Blog
2 Your Town Plaquemine: Dorseyville's St. John the Baptiste Church's rich history dates back 150 years
Related Story
DORSEYVILLE - About 13 miles south of Plaquemine sits St. John the Baptiste Church in the community of Dorseyville.
The church is a historical landmark because of its rich Black history. It's named after the late Rev. Bazil Dorsey. He founded and pastored St. John the Baptiste Church in Dorseyville. But he was much more than just a leader of the church. He was the leader of the community.
"He has done so much in the area that they felt that he deserved that right for the community to be named after him," Carolyn Wilson, a member of the church for more than 70 years, said.
Dorsey founded the church in 1868. He was a Black landowner, so he built the church on his property. Years later, he built this school across the street.
"Colored children were not being educated. So he built this building as a school and there were two classes, first and second grade, and third and fourth grade," Wilson said.
After pastor Dorsey's death, three of his successors all played pivotal roles in the growth of the church. Their names were Reverend Larry Washington. Reverend Handy Dominique, and reverend Joseph Dandrige. Now, they all lie together, ingrained in history.
"Our first four pastors are actually buried on the church property under the church," Gloria Walker, the daughter of pastor Dandrige, said.
There is a viewing window inside the church that allows you to see the tombs where the pastors lie.
"I'm grateful that we still have it here and we can still see it and it's something that we can show our children," Walker said.
News
