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FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH |
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First Christian Church Pastor J. Michael Heston Bryan Moore
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FCC HISTORY
In the spring of 1878, Adam Wright came to West Plains to proclaim the plea of the Disciples of Christ. As far as meeting with brethren was concerned, he was like John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness and, like our Lord, with nowhere to lay his head. Adam S. Wright was a brave, courageous man who feared no obstacle. During 1879 and 1880, meetings of the congregation at West Plains were held in the courthouse, a one-room frame building on the south side of Court Square. The lot upon which the Christian Church stands was deeded April 30, 1888, by H.T. Smith and wife, Fannie S. Smith, to C. D. Bolin, B. C. Woodrom, and James Logan, Trustees of the West Plains Christian Church, for which they paid $20.00. In the summer of 1883, Dad Benton was given the contract and commenced the erection of the Christian Church building the present site. While the church was being built, the congregation held its Sunday School and church services in the Central School building that stood on the site of the West Plains High School building, located at that time, just off Main Street. The congregation moved into the new building before it reached completion. The present church building was completed and dedicated the fifth Sunday of August, 1925, under the ministry, leadership, and splendid business management of R. E. L. Prunty. The fellowship dinners were started in August, 1939, under the direction of Brother Roy Fields and they remain today a part of our church program. Our minister continues to participate in the Ministerial Alliance program with the other participating ministers in our community. The results of a lay witness mission held in November of 1972, promoted a more loving and dedicated membership. There were nine share and prayer groups formed and some are still active after more than 25 years. On August 31, 1975, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our present church sanctuary. The dedicatory vows and petitions were the same as those used on August 30, 1925. Mrs. C. C. McCallon, now deceased, was our oldest living member at that time. She was present for the service and was honored, along with Mrs. Elizabeth Phelps, the first person baptized in the baptistery. The 75th anniversary of our present church sanctuary was celebrated on August 27, 2000. For a month preceding the anniversary date, several members contributed to what we labeled our "diamond collection" by bringing memorabilia from their own collections to be displayed on tables and walls in the upper floor hallway. Much interest in church history was generated and on the anniversary Sunday, Irene Houck of Branson, Missouri, brought the communion cloths that were used when the sanctuary was originally dedicated in 1925. Made by her mother-in-law, the mother of the late Myron Houck, the cloths were again used on the 75th diamond anniversary. The bulletin covers for the morning worship service were replicas of those used in the 1925 service, as were the dedication vows and petitions.
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Page last updated February 22, 2010
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