March 19, 2024

First Christian Church celebrates 150 years

The First Christian Church is celebrating its 150th anniversary at 7 p.m. Saturday with an old fashioned ice cream social in the Fellowship Hall at the church, 314 E. Second St. N. There will also be old-time singing and church memorabilia on display.

As a part of the sesquicentennial celebration, the church performed the musical “Smoke on the Mountain” last weekend. The church is also accepting canned goods donations for the Salvation Army through the end of October. To cap off the festivities there will be a special church service held at 10:15 a.m. Sunday with a chicken and noodles luncheon to follow. Reservations for the luncheon can be made by calling the church office at (641) 792-5850. Members of the community are welcome to attend all events.

“This is an exciting time for First Christian Church. We have a rich history that dates back 150 years and an exciting future in the years to come,” Pastor Mark Young said. “Our theme verse for our celebration is Hebrew 13:8, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.’ Church methods and policy have changed over the years but the gospel message is as exciting as it was 150 years ago. We look forward to a great celebration.”

The First Christian Church began in the spring of 1864 as the Christian Church when N.A. McConnell and Allen Hickey called a meeting of citizens in an unknown location interested in forming a church. A lot was purchased in 1871 at the corner of East North Street and North Olive Street, which is now North Fourth Avenue East and East Second Street North, where the church still currently stands. It was dedicated on Feb. 25, 1872 with 16 charter members.

A second church was built between 1893 and 1894 in the same location and was dedicated on Feb. 25, 1894. Not long after the completion of the church, the congregation began planning for a Christian education building. Located on the east side of the church, the Bible School building was dedicated on Jan. 25, 1914 and at the time was the only one fully devoted to Bible teaching. It housed a swimming pool that was originally church-run but later leased by the school as well as the YMCA. The YMCA used the pool until its own building and pool were opened in 1926.

The current church was built in two phases with the education and fellowship on the south and new sanctuary to the north. It was all complete by the summer of 1973.

Contact Staff Writer Jamee A. Pierson at (641) 792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.