Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Huntington, WV

OUR HISTORY

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Central Christian Church had its inception in a casual conversation between Mr. Charles B. Saunders and Mr. G. L. Surber from Lexington, Ky. It was discovered that the latter was a minister of the Christian Church, and with the names of potential members for a new congregation supplied by Mr. Saunders, the church was launched. A nine day revival (November 15-24, 1891) was held in the then Methodist Episcopal Church South (now Johnson Memorial Methodist Church) with the preaching being done by Rev. Surber. On the last day of the meeting, November 24, Central Christian Church was formally organized. A year later the formal listing of the charter members showed forty names. For a time the newly organized group of Christians met in the old joint (Cabell County) courthouse and city hall, and on February 2, 1892 the church extended a call to William B. Boulton to serve as its first minister. Upon his arrival the first Huntington Christian Church Sunday School was organized with Mr. Oscar Seeley as its first superintendent.

During the early years a frequent guest minister was J. W. McGarvey, President of  The College of the Bible. Over the years there followed a succession of ministers — Arthur Zeigler, John F. Stone, W. P. Dorsey, 0. G. White, C. H. Bass, W. B. Hendershot, Dr. W. H. Sheffer, Fred W. Smith, Joseph Garshaw, and James A. Cox, our present minister who has served since June 1, 1958. In May 1895 ground was broken for the foundation of our present sanctuary on the northeast corner of Fifth Ave. and Twelfth St., and in June, 1895, the cornerstone was laid. The first $100 for the purchase of the corner lot was given by the Ladies’ Aid Society. Much dedication and love have gone into Central Christian Church. What stands today is a monument to the Christian dedication and stewardship of its members.
The present structure has been remodeled many times. The exterior has been altered where there were originally two smaller doors opening on either side of the building front of Fifth Avenue. They were later closed to make way for the large double doors now in use. The interior has been completely altered. The church building was completed in January 1896, and Dr. F. M. Rains of Cincinnati, secretary of the Foreign Missionary Society, preached the dedicatory sermon, January 26, 1896.   In November, 1898, the county court placed a notice on the doors indicating that the building and lot would be sold shortly. The congregation was horrified, but again it was the ingenuity of the ladies who averted near disaster.  Mrs. G. W. Day tore the notice from the door and set out on a positive plan to save the church. With the help of Mrs. C. M. Wallace they canvassed the city for money to meet the proportionate amount required to meet the demands of the Church Board of Extension. They were successful and the church was saved.

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During the summer of 1913 the entire interior of Central was rebuilt. A basement was dug out under the sanctuary, the pulpit and choir loft were removed from the east side of the sanctuary north, a portion of the minister’s study was utilized for the present baptistry, and the floor was slanted to the north. An organ was purchased for $23,174.73. In August, 1916, at a total cost of $4,144.55 the first addition to the church was completed. In 1952 the splendid educational building was added, and in September, 1959, the new Fellowship Hall and kitchen were completed. In September, 1924, Central purchased a large corner lot at Seventh Street and Eleventh Avenue and an adjoining house and 1 for the sum of $37,000. The house served as the church parsonage until August 1, 1966. In 1929, the women of the church combined the individual women’s societies under one name: “Women’s Council”. Under this new form of organization the entire feminine membership of the church was divided into several separate groups each under the leadership of a chairman. These groups were known as circles. This was the fore-runner of our present Christian Women’s Fellowship with its various Groups divided in the same manner.

Central Christian Church has shared consistently its ministry with its sister congregations both locally and throughout the Brotherhood. As early as 1905 she was sharing financially in aiding three new congregations: Madison Avenue,  Chesapeake Christian and Sixth Avenue. In the past several years, Central has made significant strides forward in its financial program with increased Christian stewardship and support of the World Outreach program of the church. It has led the state in giving to the cause of Unified Promotion. In the fall of 1958 the chancel of the sanctuary was remodeled, and the effectiveness of worship was further enhanced by the addition of our new electric pipe organ. These physical improvements to our church have enabled us to carry on a much more effective and dynamic program.

With customary forward looking vision, the Official Board voted on November 22, 1964 to purchase the adjoining property facing on Twelfth Street, just north of our sanctuary. This was approved by the congregation, and the action soon consummated.   In June, 1966, the old parsonage, located at 631 Eleventh Avenue, was sold for $22,000 and the present new home for our minister and family, located at 30 Camelot Drive, Chancellor Hills, was purchased on July 1, 1966 for $42,500. Through her seventy-five years Central has exhibited her Christian faith, her staunch belief in the sovereignty of God and love for fellowman. She will continue to lift high the torch of Christ as she looks forward to a more glorious future.