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First Christian Church

“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1

The members of the Christian Church met in a store building on Santa Fe Avenue on “the third Lord’s day” on May 20, 1888 for the purpose of taking into consideration he feasibility of organizing a church. A resolution was unanimously adopted that they proceed to organize.

The members met each Sunday in this vacant building until August 1889, at which time they secured the use of the Baptist Church for a period of six months for the sum of twenty-five dollars, paid in advance.

The board of officers met at the Opera House on December 14, 1889 and appointed a committee to secure funds and erect a church building on Gracia Avenue. The house, when completed, was dedicated September 28, 1890. This building was the home of the congregation for twenty-five years. On December 6, 1914, it was decided that the old building vas inadequate to meet the reeds of the church. A committee was appointed to rebuild, with the instructions to use the old building in the reconstruction. An entirely new auditorium was erected, the old structure being converted into he Bible School annex.

Construction was begun in February 1915, and the new home was dedicated December 19, 1915 at a cost of $16,590.00. There are thirteen memorial windows, given by individuals or organizations. The first pastor was J. W. W. Waugh, and the first person baptized in the new church was Dorothy Olinger Kleine.

The house at 131 West Gracia Street was purchased for the minister’s home in 1943. In 1961 the congregation sold and built the present parsonage at 424 South Poplar Street.

Through the years the church has been served by thirty five ministers. Our present minister, Reverend Edward A. McLachlan began serving the church January 1,1972. Reverend McLachlan, his wife Mary, and family, Mark and Karen, have become a vital part of the community as well is serving the membership with concern and compassion. 

In recent years both the interior and the exterior of the church have been beautified and modernized. A chair-lift was installed on the front steps of the church in 1973 while the properties west and east of the church were acquired in 1975 and 1982 respectively. A beautiful brick/masonry church sign was built in front of the church in 1978, and side entryway was constructed in 1982. Landscaping, using shrubs, bushes, trees, flowers, and grass has created a lovely exterior for First Christian Church.

During the ten years, 1973-1982, extensive remodeling took place on the interior of the church. The basement (Fellowship Hall, classrooms, assembly room, kitchen and rest­rooms) was paneled, ceilings lowered and new lights in­stalled. The narthex, prayer room, and church offices were similarly paneled with new ceilings and lights added. Wall-to-wall carpeting was installed in the sanctuary, narthex, prayer room, tea room, Kum-Joy-Nus Classroom, and the offices.

During the same time period, the parsonage had much work done on it including the addition of new carpeting and central air conditioning.

In the past five years a new/used organ was acquired and new high efficiency furnaces/central air conditioning and ceiling fans were installed. The most recent project was the remodeling of the choir loft which included paneling, lowering ceilings, installing new chandeliers and a ceiling fan.

This Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Congregation has given generously to missions over the years includ­ing many gifts to ECHO (home for children in St. Louis), Lenoir (home for the elderly in Columbia) , and Woodhaven (school for the handicapped in Columbia) . Members of this congregation have served on Area, Regional (state), and National committees and boards.

Christian Education is a vital part of the life of the church with church school classes provided for all ages, and Christian Women’s Fellowship is an important ongoing program.

Highlights of the church year are many and varied but would include the Maundy Thursday Dinner during Holy Week, The Hanging of the Greens to begin Advent, and the Midnight Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

First Christian Church at 116 West Gracia Avenue has grown over the years from the original membership of fifty-three to a resident membership of one hundred eighty-two in 1987.

Submitted by Dorothy Downing