~ OUR HISTORY ~
The Christian Church was organized in Sedgwick, Kansas, February 23, 1896,
after a four-week meeting in Congdon's Opera House, held by J.H. Fuller.
There were 34 charter members. During the week following, eleven more
members were added: Viola Hume, Harden Hume, May Hume, James Fulton, Mrs.
Laura Fulton, Rosella Anderson, Mollie Anderson, J.H. Humphrey, Margaret
Wilson, Mollie Sandidge.
The first officers of the church were
Elders: Robert Rogers and Lewis Crum; Deacons: Philo Morris, Wm. Fulton,
Oscar Adamson; Trustees: S.M. Stewart, A.C. Morris, Lee Stewart, Robert
Rogers, and W.A. Hume; Tresurer: W.A. Hume; Clerk: Oscar Adamson.
The
following spring, the Christian Church from Darlington Township was moved to
Sedgwick and dedicated May 1, 1886, by Bro. G.T. Grobarger. The first pastor
was J.H. Fuller. In 1907, an addition was built on the east side of the
church. The old church was moved to the east side of the lot and later sold.
In the Fall of 1912, the contract was let to Boone Siler to build a new
church. It was completed and dedicated February 16, 1913 by George L.
Smiley. The following Fall, the contract was let to Geo. Elliot to build a
modern church parsonage.
In January 1977, the congregation voted to
have their church name removed from the Disciples of Christ yearbook with a
resolution to be independent of any denomination.
In 1978, due to
structural deterioration, the church membership voted to construct a new
building, the third Christian Church to set on the corner of Sixth Street
and Franklin in Sedgwick. This dedication was held on August 26, 1979. The
total cost of the building was $171,116.61, and the congregation celebrated
the mortgatge being "Paid-in-Full" on August 26, 1984.
In the summer
of 1990, the church celebrated its 100th year annivarsary with an
old-fashioned tent revival and ice cream social in the park. The theme, "The
Old Gospel for a New Century", reflected the church's long history of faith
and its plans toward continuing faithfulness.
In 1993, under the
supervison of the church's minister, Kim Beckwith, a new wing was added onto
the south of the existing building. This was the first phase of a proposed
building expansion program.
During the 100-year history of the First
Christian Chruch in Sedgwick, there have been a total of twenty-nine men who
have served as ministers to the congregation.
J.H. Fuller, April 1896 - October 1896
M.L. Munn, February 1887 -
July 1898
G.M. McLaine, July 1888 - July 1899
Elster M. Hale,
September 1899 - December 1900
Charles Burridge, February 1901 - August
1901
D.D. Boyle, Fall 1901 - Spring 1902
B.F. Parker, 1902 - 1904
S.F. Wright, 1904 - 1905
Hattress H. Shick, 1905 - 1907
E.G. Manley,
April 1907- December 1908
A.C. Doolittle, Spring 1908 - 1910
Harry M.
Woods, March 1910 - January 1911
J.W. Humphries, June 1911 - June 1914
George O. Marsh, June 1914 - December 1916
Ray Lessig, January 1917 -
February 1920
Albert Harris, April 1920 - September 1923
William
Daugherty, Novermber 1923 - March 1924
L.T. Faulders, April 1924 - August
1926
R.C. Leonard, September 1926 - February 1936
John H. Thompson,
April 1936 - December 1937
L.T. Faulders, December 1937 - June 1938
Hugh C. Bugsby, June 1938 - July 1941
C.L. Brooks, August 1941 - March
1942
H.J. Howard, May 1942 - November 1944
Richard E. Vail, February
1945 - December 1947
Gerald Black, January 1948 - 1951
Richard E.
Vail, 1952 - 1975
David R. Erwin, 1975 - 1983
Kim A. Beckwith, August
1983 - Present