By Mary K. Hamner
Journal Correspondent

Ten years ago, at Castor's Centennial Celebration, eleven members of the New Friendship Choir climbed onto the stage, beginning what has become a popular attraction at Castor Festivals. The stage was a truck trailer and they sang their gospel music with no accompaniment. The choir, affiliated with the New Friendship Baptist Church, has a sound all their own causing their audiences to want to sway and clap their hands with the rhythm of the music. One old hymn, Let the Church Roll On, performed that Castor Centennial day in March of 2000, is the traditional song called for by the festival audience every time they sing.

The choir affiliated with the New Friendship Baptist Church east of Castor has a history. In Verba Pope Egan's history of the Church, it was first organized in 1869. The early log church was located near an old Masonic Lodge building that still stands today. The original church was modernized and approved through the years and in 1996 the new church was built.

The Senior Choir History, listing Past Presidents extends from 1923-1994. Current officers: Pauline Johnson, President, Michael Egan, Sr., Vice-President, Doretha Maxwell, Secretary, Verlen Watson, Assistant Secretary, Lula Wyatt, Treasurer, and Verba Egan, Director, have held their positions since 1994. Mia Pope Townsel has served as pianist since 1985.

Mrs. Townsel, employed by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality as Environmental Supervisor-Notification and Accreditation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, drives from Baton Rouge at least once a month for choir rehearsals on Saturdays and worship services at the church on Sunday. Born in Minden, Townsel achieved her education after graduation from Minden High School by attending LTU, then McNeese in Lake Charles and finally Southern University where she earned her Master's Degree in Biological Science. She and her husband, Rev. Granville Townsel, and their two sons are involved in a Baton Rouge based Prison Ministry and a spiritual singing group called, Adoratious.

The choir is furnished a better stage under the tent in Castor festivals now and the pianist accompanies them on a keyboard. The group considers their performance at the festivals as a community service and they never forget to sing the traditional song the audience loves and expects.

Verba Egan leads off while the bass, alto, and other sopranos finish off all the other notes. Led by their pianist, Mia Pope Townsel, they launch off into, LET THE CHURCH ROLL ON!

Chorus: O Let the church roll on (MY Lord)
Let the church roll on (My Lord).
Let the church roll on (roll on church)
Let the church roll on. ( Repeat chorus after each verse.)

Verse 1: There's a sister in the church (My Lord)
Her lips are too red (My Lord)
Tell me whatcha gonna do? (Soap and water, wash it off)
Let the church roll on.

Verse 2: Another sister in the church (My Lord)
Her dress is too short ( My Lord)
Tell me whatcha gonna do - ( Cut the stitch- drop the hem)
Let the church roll on.

Verse 3: There's a deacon in the church ( My Lord)
And he won't do right ( My Lord)
Tell me whatcha gonna do? ( Take the deacon off the board and put the board on the deacon)
And let the church roll on.

Verse 4: Well there's a preacher in the church ( My Lord)
And he won't do right ( My Lord)
Tell me whatcha gonna do (group confers with each other)
Well, there's a preacher in the church ( My Lord)
And he won't do right (My Lord)
Tell me whatcha gonna do (Group confers)
After third time asking- bass finally answers
Write a check and pay him off- and let the church roll on!

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