Editing Enid, Oklahoma (section)

===Religious affiliation===
[[File:A business in downtown Enid decorated for the winter holiday season.jpg|thumb|left|A business in downtown Enid decorated for the winter holiday season]]

Of the people in Enid, 61.9% claim affiliation with a religious congregation;{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} 9.4% are Catholic, 39.2% are Protestant, 1.1% are Latter Day Saints and 12.2% are another Christian denomination.<ref name=BEST /> By 1987, there were 90 churches of 27 different denominations of Christianity.<ref name=BEST>{{cite web|url=https://www.bestplaces.net/city/Enid-Oklahoma.aspx |title=Best Places to Live in Enid, Oklahoma |publisher=Bestplaces.net |access-date=2011-03-24}}</ref><ref name=Electionboard>"Enid", ''Directory of Oklahoma'' Oklahoma State Election Board, 1987</ref> Downtown Enid boasted the world's largest fresh cut Christmas tree in 2021 and 2022, which was placed downtown in time for the annual Enid Lights Up the Plains festival.<ref name="Christmastree">{{cite news |last1=Godfrey |first1=Mike |title=Video: Visiting the largest Christmas tree on earth |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50544395/video-visiting-the-largest-christmas-tree-on-earth |access-date=13 January 2023 |publisher=KSL |date=23 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="denver7">{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Jessie |title=A small town makes Christmas tree history while also spreading joy |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/national/a-small-town-makes-christmas-tree-history-while-also-spreading-joy |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Denver7 |date=19 December 2022}}</ref>

Enid's [[Phillips University]], although formally affiliated with the [[Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)|Disciples of Christ]], was a product of religious collaboration between followers of the Disciples of Christ, Presbyterian Church, and Judaism.<ref name=Rockwell26 /> Although Phillips University has closed, Enid still has a number of private Christian schools, including St. Paul's Lutheran School, Oklahoma Bible Academy, St. Joseph Catholic School, and Emmannuel Christian School.<ref name="religious education">{{cite news |last1=McKendrick |first1=Kelci |title=Local faith-based private schools provide education to students, options for parents |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/local-faith-based-private-schools-provide-education-to-students-options-for-parents/article_8a7114b2-ea5b-11eb-8476-c3f7995dea99.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Enid News & Eagle |date=28 July 2021}}</ref>

Enid has two Catholic congregations: St. Francis Xavier, founded in 1893, and St. Gregory, founded in 1971.<ref name=Stgregory>Barron, Robert, [http://enidnews.com/localnews/x530795770/A-lack-priests-in-Oklahoma-is-cited-for-shutting-down-St-Gregory-The-Great-Catholic-Church A lack of priests in Oklahoma is cited for shutting down St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church], ''Enid News & Eagle'', January 19, 2011</ref> St. Francis Xavier's Bishop Theophile Meerschaert was responsible for founding [[Enid Cemetery and Calvary Catholic Cemetery|Calvary Catholic Cemetery]] in 1898.<ref name=Enidcem>{{cite web|url=http://www.enidcemetery.org/CemHist.html|title=A Short, Concise History of Enid Cemetery|website=www.enidcemetery.org|access-date=August 14, 2011|archive-date=July 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726032051/http://www.enidcemetery.org/CemHist.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Enid is home to several Protestant churches. It has four Lutheran congregations: Immanuel, founded in 1899, Trinity, founded in 1901, St. Paul, founded in 1909, and Redeemer, founded in 1934.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcms.org|title=The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod|website=The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod}}</ref>  Enid has several historically Black churches, including St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church, First Missionary Baptist Church, and West Side Church of God in Christ (COGIC).<ref name="blackchurches" /> The Southern Heights Ministerial Alliance brings local Black clergy together.<ref name="blackchurches">{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=James |title=Church is still the most segregated hour of the week |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/church-is-still-the-most-segregated-hour-of-the-week/article_fcae424c-902e-11e7-a1c3-bf2b69a463cb.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Enid News & Eagle |date=2 September 2017}}</ref> Enid has two churches serving its Korean population, the Enid Korean Church of Grace<ref name="Koreanchurchofgrace">{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=James |title=Enid High JROTC student wins scholarship to flight school |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/local_news/enid-high-jrotc-student-wins-scholarship-to-flight-school/article_e1e0cc87-3a11-5d5c-8bbb-2665751c7495.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Enid News & Eagle |date=3 February 2020}}</ref> and Peace United Methodist.<ref name="koreanpeace">{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=James |title=Churches find new strengths by joining congregations |url=https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/life/faith/2017/07/15/churches-find-new-strengths-joining-congregations/476254001/ |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Go San Angelo |date=15 July 2017}}</ref> Iglesia Cristiana El Shaddai, a Disciples of Christ congregation founded in 2001, serves the area Hispanic community.<ref name="faithways">{{cite news |last1=Hefton |first1=Billy |title=New congregations find a place to grow at University Place Christian Church |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/progress/new-congregations-find-a-place-to-grow-at-university-place-christian-church/article_4e7c9816-b68c-11ec-9299-bf87e882f99b.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Enid News & Eagle |date=10 April 2022}}</ref> Enid Faith Ways Church is LGBTQ friendly.<ref name="faithways" /><ref name="UCCLGBTQ">{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=James |title=New congregation creating open, affirming environment for LGBTQ community |url=https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/oklahoma/new-congregation-creating-open-affirming-environment-for-lgbtq-community/article_22b53431-158f-5250-ab8e-70510633dc9b.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Muskogee Phoenix |date=27 March 2018}}</ref>

Enid also has a small Bahá’í congregation that often meets in congregants' homes and serves some of Enid's Marshallese population.<ref name="Bahai">{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=James |title='HEART OF THE FAITH' 2020 VISION: Principles of unity, equality and peace emphasized in local Bahá'í community |url=https://www.enidnews.com/news/progress/2020-vision-principles-of-unity-equality-and-peace-emphasized-in-local-bah-community/article_4d3469fc-7142-11ea-af0a-e38e4d7f7d31.html |access-date=13 January 2023 |agency=Enid News and Eagle |date=28 March 2020}}</ref>

Historically, between 1925 and 1930<ref name="ISJC">{{cite web |title=Enid, Oklahoma |url=https://www.isjl.org/oklahoma-enid-encyclopedia.html |website=Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> Enid was home to a small Jewish congregation called Emanuel, which met at the Loewen Hotel,<ref name="Friedenwald">[[Herbert Friedenwald|Friedenwald, Herbert]], "Oklahoma", The American Jewish Year Book, Volume 12, American Jewish Committee, p. 273</ref> founded by Al Loewen, a local merchant who also served on the committee to create Phillips University.<ref name=Rockwell26>Rockwell, Stella, ed., Garfield County, Oklahoma, 1907–1982, Vol. I, Garfield Historical Society, Josten's Publishing Company, Topeka, Kansas. 1982. pp. 26–27</ref> Lacking a synagogue building members of the Jewish community have held services at Convention Hall<ref name="1923YK">{{cite news |title=M.M. Rabin will be speaker for service |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/907683894/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily Eagle |date=19 September 1923}}</ref> and local Masonic Temples,<ref name="1916newyear">{{cite news |title=Jewish New Year service last night |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/581996906/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily Eagle |date=28 September 1916}}</ref><ref name="1918newyear">{{cite news |title=Jewish new year being celebrated |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/608390206/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily Eagle |date=6 September 1918}}</ref> or by traveling to synagogues in other cities.<ref name="1921newyear">{{cite news |title=Jewish New Years begins this evening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/608534494/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily News |date=2 October 1921}}</ref> The [[Enid Cemetery and Calvary Catholic Cemetery|Enid Cemetery]] also has a Jewish section where many of early Enid's Jewish merchants are interred,<ref name=Enidcem2>[https://www.garfieldokgen.org/ceme-enid.htm Garfield County Genealogists - Enid, Oklahoma] (accessed August 4, 2013)</ref> including the founders of Kaufman's Style Shop, Herzberg's Department Store, Newman Mercantile,<ref name=Mendel>Evergates, Theodore (ed.) and Constable, Giles, (ed.), "William Mendel Newman (1902–1977)", ''[http://www.medievalacademy.org/Digital_Editions/Newman_0097/Newman_0097.htm The Cartulary and Charters of Notre-Dame of Homblieres] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928044657/http://www.medievalacademy.org/Digital_Editions/Newman_0097/Newman_0097.htm |date=2011-09-28 }}'', by William Mendel Newman, Medieval Academy Books, No. 97, 1990</ref> and Meibergen and Godschalk, Enid's first clothing store.<ref name=Gcgen>[https://garfieldokgen.org/Photos24.htm Enid's first clothing store, established in 1893], Photograph Album, Garfield County Genealogists</ref> During the Oklahoma territorial era, Enid elected Jewish resident Joseph Meibergen in 1897 as mayor.<ref name="ISJC" /> Enid was home to the Northwest Oklahoma chapter of the B'nai B'rith founded in 1926,<ref name="BBNO">{{cite news |title=Northwest Oklahoma B'nai Brith is organized here Saturday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/900493043/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily Eagle |date=13 December 1926}}</ref><ref name="Levenson">{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Joseph |title=The Story of Oklahoma Jewry |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/603109023/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Southwest Jewish Chronicle |date=1 September 1953}}</ref> the Enid Jewish Women's Council met in the 1930s and 1940s,<ref name="USO">{{cite news |title=Jewish women are USO hostesses |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/898038403/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Morning News |date=13 May 1945}}</ref><ref name="Jewishwomen">{{cite news |title=Jewish Women's Council Meet |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/900501192/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily Eagle |date=3 November 1932}}</ref> and the Enid Jewish Chautauqua held programs as early as 1910.<ref name="SocietyJC">{{cite news |last1=McKenzie |first1=Birdie |title=In Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/660027864/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |agency=The Enid Daily Eagle |date=5 January 1910}}</ref>

Enid is the home of two Masonic Lodges, the Enid Lodge #80 and the Garfield Lodge #501. The Enid Lodge has many Jewish members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enidnews.com/localnews/x546171964/Local-Masonic-locldge-opened-year-after-Cherokee-Strip-run/print |title=Local Masonic lodge opened year after Cherokee Strip run » The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK |publisher=Enidnews.com |date=2009-12-13 |access-date=2011-03-24}}</ref>