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Our Church History |
First Christian Church, a non-instrumental congregation met on College St. behind the old Heers building in the late 1800’s. There were
people in the current neighborhood, however, who did not want to travel “all that way” to go to church. Consequently Rev. H.J.Underwood led a small group of people who met as a Sunday School class in a building on Commercial St. in 1888. As they grew they moved to the borrowed Benton Avenue ME Church. In less than a year a benefactor from First Christian Church, Matilda Weaver (Tillie) gave the lot at the corner of Washington and Division, built a building at the cost of $10,000 and gave it to the Sunday School group with the stipulation that if instrumental music was ever used by the church the property would revert to her. This church was named Washington Avenue Christian Church and it began in 1889. That name was changed to
Central Christian Church in 1902 because a Washington Avenue Church already existed. In 1926 that building was torn down and the present building was erected and dedicated in 1927. A parsonage was built in 1945 and the education building was built in 1959. The newest addition and renovation was dedicated in 2001.
It took years, money and
litigation to free the church from the binding of no instrumental music. The board was eventually able to pay the survivors of Tillie Weaver’s family and the matter was settled.
Thanks to Garner Phillips for her help with this summary. |
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Our Great Future ! |
Our Great History ! |
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