History of First Christian Elizabethton
The Christian Church in Elizabethton had its beginning in 1891 when a group of seven individuals met in a small building on Elk Avenue, in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The building belonged to the Episcopal Church and was known as "The Episcopalian Chapel". Ministers who visited and preached for the brethren during those early years of struggle were, William Barker, W. C. Maupin, David Ellis, Brother Chevis, Professor Thomas, E. C. Buck, A. T. Myhr, and probably others. Among the 14 “charter members” were David Brumit, J. W. Williams, Jerry Miller, Samuel Shell, Mrs. Annie Jett, and Mrs. Lillie Elliott. Mrs. David Brumit was the first new member received into this small congregation, coming by baptism from the Methodist church.
The building site, a part of which was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jett and the additional piece bought at a price of $125, was a perfect setting for a church. The lot was shaded with several trees and a small stream nearby afforded much pleasure to the youngsters and anxiety to the mothers. The present building is in the same location.
While plans were being made and a building erected, the congregation met in the office of J. W. Williams Lumber Company, which was located at 219 Sycamore Street.
The cornerstone for the new building was laid on October 6, 1903 by Mrs. T. J. Elliott, a sincere consecrated woman. Four months later the church met in its new building for worship. On February 14, 1904, a Bible school was organized with 54 in attendance. A prayer meeting was also started. The new house was dedicated May 29, 1904, by Brother L. L. Carpenter of Wabash, Indiana. The recorder says, "Brother Carpenter came with Brother Buck and many other ministers and about two thousand people from many points, and there was after the morning service plenty of refreshments on the ground."
The first one to minister to the congregation was A. I. Myhr. This was during the establishment of the church and while the building was being erected. The clerk records: "It was a season of pleasure to all to hear the Word preached and to meet and worship in the Lord's House."
J. J. Musick came in July 1928 to First Christian. Dr Josephus Hopwood, president of Milligan College had once said of Musick, “He’ll be a pretty good preacher, if he ever decides to settle down somewhere.” Musick had found his “settling-down” place and he remained at First Christian for almost 17 years. While Brother Musick was at First Christian, the church founded three other congregations in Elizabethton: West Side Christian and South Side Christian in 1933 and East Side Christian in 1934.
Coming to minister at First Christian in 1945 was Fred W. Smith. Not long after Brother Smith was on the field, the need for a Christian Home to house neglected children became obvious. This need was placed before the Board of the Church and plans were laid to establish a home. A cornerstone was laid August 22, 1947, and the Home was begun in 1948 with the entrance requirement “need not creed.”
Numerical growth continued during “Preacher Smith’s”, as he was known, tenure. By 1956 the Bible school average climbed to 400 and membership had reached 800. In March of 1966, Brother Smith left First Christian after a great ministry of accomplishment, growth, and spiritual fervor spanning almost 21 and a half years. In 1968 due to the need for a church in the East River Park area, East River Park Christian was created.
For fifteen years, several ministers came to First Christian. Donald B. Marshall came to First Christian and planted roots here. Dr. Marshall stayed for over 25 years, retiring in 2003. In early 2004, Brent Nidiffer came from western North Carolina to be the minister at First Christian. The Church has grown spiritually since the arrival of Brother Nidiffer.
The work goes forward in Elizabethton. First Christian Church maintains a steady pace. Those congregations fostered by her though the years are also growing. Perhaps nowhere else in the world is there a more populous and prosperous Christian Church movement in comparison to general population than in Elizabethton and Carter County.
- The above was paraphrased from the program, "Dedication of New Building" dated October 2, 1955 and “A History of First Christian Church Elizabethton, Tennessee.”
The building site, a part of which was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Jett and the additional piece bought at a price of $125, was a perfect setting for a church. The lot was shaded with several trees and a small stream nearby afforded much pleasure to the youngsters and anxiety to the mothers. The present building is in the same location.
While plans were being made and a building erected, the congregation met in the office of J. W. Williams Lumber Company, which was located at 219 Sycamore Street.
The cornerstone for the new building was laid on October 6, 1903 by Mrs. T. J. Elliott, a sincere consecrated woman. Four months later the church met in its new building for worship. On February 14, 1904, a Bible school was organized with 54 in attendance. A prayer meeting was also started. The new house was dedicated May 29, 1904, by Brother L. L. Carpenter of Wabash, Indiana. The recorder says, "Brother Carpenter came with Brother Buck and many other ministers and about two thousand people from many points, and there was after the morning service plenty of refreshments on the ground."
The first one to minister to the congregation was A. I. Myhr. This was during the establishment of the church and while the building was being erected. The clerk records: "It was a season of pleasure to all to hear the Word preached and to meet and worship in the Lord's House."
J. J. Musick came in July 1928 to First Christian. Dr Josephus Hopwood, president of Milligan College had once said of Musick, “He’ll be a pretty good preacher, if he ever decides to settle down somewhere.” Musick had found his “settling-down” place and he remained at First Christian for almost 17 years. While Brother Musick was at First Christian, the church founded three other congregations in Elizabethton: West Side Christian and South Side Christian in 1933 and East Side Christian in 1934.
Coming to minister at First Christian in 1945 was Fred W. Smith. Not long after Brother Smith was on the field, the need for a Christian Home to house neglected children became obvious. This need was placed before the Board of the Church and plans were laid to establish a home. A cornerstone was laid August 22, 1947, and the Home was begun in 1948 with the entrance requirement “need not creed.”
Numerical growth continued during “Preacher Smith’s”, as he was known, tenure. By 1956 the Bible school average climbed to 400 and membership had reached 800. In March of 1966, Brother Smith left First Christian after a great ministry of accomplishment, growth, and spiritual fervor spanning almost 21 and a half years. In 1968 due to the need for a church in the East River Park area, East River Park Christian was created.
For fifteen years, several ministers came to First Christian. Donald B. Marshall came to First Christian and planted roots here. Dr. Marshall stayed for over 25 years, retiring in 2003. In early 2004, Brent Nidiffer came from western North Carolina to be the minister at First Christian. The Church has grown spiritually since the arrival of Brother Nidiffer.
The work goes forward in Elizabethton. First Christian Church maintains a steady pace. Those congregations fostered by her though the years are also growing. Perhaps nowhere else in the world is there a more populous and prosperous Christian Church movement in comparison to general population than in Elizabethton and Carter County.
- The above was paraphrased from the program, "Dedication of New Building" dated October 2, 1955 and “A History of First Christian Church Elizabethton, Tennessee.”
