In 1858 there was a two-story brick structure that was built on this site called Waldron Street Christian Church.

During the Civil War, probably in 1862, during the Union occupation of the city, the building was torn down. The bricks were taken off of the building by the Union soldiers to be used in building brick ovens. The ovens were used to bake bread.

Wouldn't that be a shocking site to see your beloved church building that had just been built torn down four years later…to build ovens? Imagine the courage it took to decide to stay here on this site and continue worshipping after a devastating blow like that.

Many churches that lose their buildings never rebuild in the same location. Waldron Street Christian Church did. By 1868, three years after the Civil War, a new building had been started on this site. It was a wooden structure that took about two years to complete. Ten years after the original building was built a new building took shape on the corner of Waldron and Tayor. That building lasted for about 44 years.

During a particularly rousing praise meeting the floor began to sag and finally caved in. People were so frightened that they jumped out of the windows. When the dust had settled they realized that it was time to build a stronger building.

By 1912 the U.S. Government reimbursed the church for the loss of their original building. They gave Waldron Street Christian Church $800 to rebuild. Boys and girls were encouraged to save their pennies. The minister at the time found penny saving books that the children could put their pennies in. Every time they collected 25 pennies or 25 cents they could turn in their penny book and get another empty one to fill up again. In 1912 a penny was a pretty important coin. Today we would probably say that a quarter was an important coin. Imagine, that a coin that is 25 times greater than a penny was the same amount that those boys and girls collected.

So in 1912 Waldron Street Christian Church was rebuilt…facing Taylor Street. This glorious new building had a bell tower with bells in it. The beautiful stained glass windows were part of the new building. In 1912, as today, they must have been very inspiring. The baptistery was on the south side of the church where part of our choir sits today, because this wall was the back of the church.

The building has a huge basement in it that has been used for many different purposes. At one time the fellowship hall was in the basement. The church was not air-conditioned back then. Wood stoves were used to heat the building in winter.

The education building, as it was called, was built in 1952. That building had a newer fellowship hall on the second floor. The baptistery that we have in this building was relocated out of the back wall to be in the center of this building. That's when all the staircases were built that are of such concern to us today. The pastor's office and the secretary's office were downstairs where the T.V. room is located today.

By 1988 an opportunity came along to expand the church building again. The McPeter's Mortuary building became available and the church decided to buy it. That was 20 years ago. At first people thought the building was a bit strange, because there were such unusual decorations in the building. Mr. McPeters had very distinct taste. Blown glass Italian light fixtures, blue and white tiles, gold flecks in the floor.

So that's where we've been. Now, where are we going?

Twenty years after we purchased the Mc Peter's building, fifty-six years after the Educational Building was built, and ninety-six years after this building was built, we are planning to build a new building. Almost one hundred years after this building and right at one hundred and fifty years since the first building was established in 1858 we are planning to build a new building that faces Waldron Street again. It will be a building that takes up most of the space from the eastern edge of this sanctuary to the end of the block.

The buildings that were built in 1952 and acquired in 1988 will be taken down to make room for a magnificent new structure housing Waldron Street Christian Church. This building, our sanctuary, will be retained and used as a chapel. We hope to blend the old and the new in a pleasant style that will suit the personality of our church and of this city.

Brother Ted is going to ask everyone to contribute to this building. I doubt if he will be asking for pennies, though. More than likely it will be quarters and dollars that he will encourage us to save for the new building. Each of us will have a part in building the new building, but throughout the entire process God will be our leader.

The Christian Church is part of the fellowship known historically as "The Restoration Movement."

Known simply as "Christians" we believe in the deity and the Lordship of Christ, the inspiration of the scriptures, and the autonomy of the local congregation. Thus, we are free in Christ; free from ecclesiastical ties; free to seek to be the type of congregation of believers patterned after the New Testament and free to cooperate with a worldwide fellowship of such churches.

We find the Church in the New Testament had certain things which characterized it. Among those were: baptism by immersion and the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper. In striving to be Biblical, we adhere to these.

We seek the unity of all believers on the basis of faith in Christ as the divine Son of God and the acceptance of the New Testament as the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice.