A sacrifice on the altar of unity: the loss of Black identity in the unification of Kynett and LaGrange First UMC.

This study examines the 1996 merger of Kynett United Methodist Church, a historically Black church, and LaGrange First United Methodist Church, a traditionally White church in LaGrange, Kentucky. The study provides insight into nonurban Black churches, showing that while they may have smaller congregations in smaller towns, the Black church remains central to Black life and connection like its urban contemporaries. Methods for collecting primary source material relied heavily on oral histories performed by the researcher with Black and White individuals attending said churches and their experiences during the merger. The study reveals that although unification promised a modern building and a feeling of racial inclusion and diversity, it required more of a sacrifice for Black congregants than their White counterparts.