Central Church history

Central became the first Church of Christ in Sparta and the second in White County (Cherry Creek Church of Christ began in 1820).

Patton founded the church in January of 1821 with his wife Mary and four other people.

Central Congregational Church, a member of the United Church of Christ, was established in 1852.

Central Christian Church began in Waco with 18 people worshipping in homes in 1867.

On May 6, 1883, The Express Church Notices column contained this information, “Elder David Pennington of the Christian Church, will preach at 4 p.m. at the Trinity church on avenue C. All are invited.” Rev.

In March 1884, planning for a building began and a lot was purchased in April.

Born in 1890, Blanche Perry built a reputation as a painter of religious themes that included at least 222 church baptisteries.

After the box was deposited, and the plate over it securely sealed, the massive corner stone, bearing the clean-cut inscription, Central Christian Church, 1893, was promptly lowered to its place.

The art glass windows from the 1903 building were installed.

They published a cookbook in 1904, followed by a series of cookbooks still used today in preparing church dinners.

Central’s current building was commissioned and funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1922 as the home for Park Avenue Baptist Church.

After closing on the Park Avenue building purchase in 1929, Central held its first service in its new home at 593 Park Avenue on Sunday, September 22, 1929, shortly before the October 1929 stock market crash.

In 1941, there were 5 military installations in San Antonio filled with soldiers from all over the world.

In 1944 Central gave funds for the establishment of Highland Christian Church.

The first service in the new building was held on December 18, 1949.

On December 17, 1950, Doctor Earl Waldrop arrived to assume ministerial responsibilities.

The arms and hands of the 1952 Christus Statue located in the Prayer Garden were re-created by 3D Artlab (3D printing) in Lexington and attached to the statue.

In 1953 monies were contributed to establish Alamo Heights Christian Church, and also Western Hills Christian Church.

Central Church was established in the heart of Bakersfield in 1954.

Lawwill maintained the Garden at personal expense until her death in 1956.

Also in 1957 a parking area was purchased at the corner of Main and Quincy.

In 1958 the church ladies started a fund to purchase and install the elevator.

Information is from the History of Central Christian Church, 1962, Appendix IV.

The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) met in San Antonio August 15-20, 1975.

In 1978, Doctor Youngblood was elected a member of the Board at TCU. Also in 1978, the church purchased the exquisite (and still displayed) Nativity Scene created by Fern Deutsch and Bess McGee.

Doctor Youngblood’s term spanned the Vietnam War and in 1979 the church welcomed the Chanthadara family from Laos.

Our family began attending in 1981 when the average attendance was 450 on Sundays.

The Assembly met in San Antonio again in 1983 for Central’s 100th anniversary.

The Samaritan Center of Central and Eastern Kentucky was formed around 1984.

The Meriwether Building, located at 248 east Short Street, was a two-story brick building with a finished English basement that was located across the street from Central Christian Church Apartments. It was purchased by Central Christian Church in May 1985 from Pauline R. Meriwether for $115,000.

In the early spring of 1987, the name of the Meriwether Building was changed to the Bertha Alexander Building, named after a church member who left her entire estate to Central.

• The family of Julian Thomas Parks, Jr. donated a second garden fountain in his memory, which replaced the 1988 fountain.

Makin resigned January 10, 1993, after serving in many capacities and enriching Central with his dramatic talents, acting out Old and New Testament characters brought to life through his research in costume and speech.

Our first service on the Russell Road property was held on October 1995.

Subsequent to the ‘offer to purchase’, Central Christian Church paid for an official appraisal of the property, which estimated the value of the Alexander Building and lot in 1997 at $120,000.

Suzanne Coyle became Executive Director in 1998 upon the resignation of John P. Reed.

• The Circle 11 stock and a bond they purchased (due in 2000), were turned over to the church Foundation; dividends from it were to be used to continually maintain the Garden.

The first meeting in the new building was November 29, 2001.

Six years later, the value of the building had greatly increased, and was sold in 2003 to TKRG II, LLC, for $185,000.

Nelson Torres was hired in 2004 to begin a Hispanic ministry for the residents of the area.

Beginning in 2006, a group of committed Christians from around the city began attending Central in an attempt to turn around the failing church.

In 2007 Doctor Deuel resigned from Central to become full-time minister at Stone Oak.

Doctor Deuel resigned form North Central to become the Senior Minister at First Christian Church in Plano, Texas in 2010.

He then started The Church in Central, which is now Central Church. It began meeting at Kristenwood Reception Center, then moved to the Sullivan Center, before moving to its current location off of Hwy 64 in February of 2011.

DR. MICHAEL S. PASSMORE Doctor Passmore was called to be the Senior Minister of Central Christian Church in 2012.

In 2013 Central members came together and raised $35,000+ to install solar panels on our building.