The First Christian Church is a part of the tradition begun by Thomas and Alexander Campbell in West Virginia, Barton W. Stone in Kentucky, Walter Scott in Ohio and Dr. Chester Bullard in Virginia. These men worked independently from the beginning of the 19th century until 1832 in Lexington, Kentucky.
This merger produced the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a church noted for following the Bible as their rule and guide for church program, polity and service. We are a church dedicated to unity in essentials, and freedom in all else.
More detailed information on the founding of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) can be found here.
Although there are no official records, the beginnings of the Greenville First Christian Church are generally accepted as having sprung from a 1905 revival held by Brother Hawkins in the Presbyterian Church. First services were held in various member homes and in the Greenville Courthouse in those early times. In 1908, a revival was held in the Courthouse by the Rev. W. J. Hudspeth, who was then Evangelist for the Christian Churches of Western Kentucky. Sadly, there is little on record for the period of time immediately following this revival as an epidemic of diphtheria swept through the area. In spite of waning interest during these dark times, a small group continued to meet in homes on Sunday afternoons for prayer and communion.
Interest in the new congregation was revived in 1912 as the Rev. H.C. Ford came to visit family in the area, and held discussions with local members. An organizing body for the church was created, and the following declaration was recorded:
"We, the Disciples of Christ, residing in Greenville, Kentucky, believing it to be the will of our Heavenly Father, have organized ourselves into a body to be known as the ‘Christian Church’." Soon, a Sunday School was organized, meeting on Sunday afternoons in the old high school auditorium, and then subsequently in the Courthouse and at a YMCA building.
In 1912, a lot on the corner of East Main Cross and College Streets was purchased with a concrete block church constructed through the hard work and sacrifices of its members in 1913. Services and Sunday School were held here until 1919 by which time the congregation had outgrown the facility. The present building was purchased from the Methodist congregation in that year for $9000, quite a financial undertaking at that time for the small congregation., but the indebtedness incurred was paid off within a short time. Since that time, there as been a continuing program of expansion, remodeling and refurbishing.
The First Christian Church immediately made, and continues to make, a vital contribution to the community and to the Kingdom of God. Cooperation with other community churches and organizations, and support of missionary and benevolent works have always been characteristic of the congregation’s commitment to inter-denominational initiatives designed to better our world.
Another diphtheria epidemic in the early 1920’s struck the area, but the church persevered through the lean and dark times, and acted unanimously on their faith to purchase property adjacent to the church in 1929. As the church did not have the necessary funds on hand, some of the faithful members borrowed the money from the First National Bank, and held a mortgage on the church for a period of time.
A tradition of women active in the church, begun a decade earlier, continued their benevolent work, raising funds for the maintenance and improvement of the church building, and for the benefit of the Kentucky Children’s Orphans Home.
By 1932, the congregation had more than doubled in membership since moving from the little concrete building, and had one of the best organized Sunday Schools in the area. Throughout the 1930’s, the church struggled financially, but continued to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Oftentimes, a full-time pastor was beyond their means, and members provided room and meals for the pastor travelling to Greenville to preach every second Sunday.
During the was years in the early 1940’s, the church continued to grow and serve. In 1943, the Presbyterian congregation in Greenville was invited to join the congregation in fellowship until they were able to secure their own Pastor. They did, and the two congregations grew in love for each other and for the Lord.
By 1945, a full-time pastor was again possible, and in 1946, the members decided to purchase property to be used as a parsonage. The activities of the church in the community continued to grow, with the congregation hosting a Christmas Cantata in 1948 and a Homecoming in the summer of 1949. In 1950, a set of by-laws and a constitution were voted into existence by the members and became part of our church history.
Over the intervening years, the congregation has been blessed with inspired leadership of various pastors that have helped us grow in spirit and strength. New members have joined our family, others have moved on to new opportunities and communities, and yet others have moved on to their glory with our Lord.