The First
One Hundred Years
The First Christian Church in Sulphur met in 1902 in a public house in old Southtown, a part of what
was then called Sulphur Springs, Chickasaw Nation , Indian Territory.
A 1905 map shows the building to by 25 feet wide and 60 feet long made out of corrugated iron clad, and was
occupied by a furniture store prior the the church's occupancy.
After about 1906 the church was located in various rented quarters. The last rented building to house the
church was the Payne Studio at 1018 West First Street.
Sometime between 1906 and 1911, the Christian Church apparently occupied property at the northwest corner
of West 10th and Davis Avenue (later changed to Broadway).
The church was reorganized on January 26th , 1913, by R. M. Estes with 45 members.
On March 25th, 1915, the church was incorporated as the First Christian Church by G.W. Stevenson, L.T. Offield
and Earle Masters. At this time the Church met in a store building west of and across the street from the Artesian Hotel.
A group of members met and each pledged $100 to buy the lots where the present building stands. For approximately
10 years the congregation met in the old post office building that stood on this corner.
The church building that we enjoy today was completed in October of 1928, built by W. L. Scott Construction
Company of Sulphur. The first worship service was held on October 7, 1928 and the church was dedicated the following
Sunday.
In 1945, a building committee was selected to raise money to build a new, one story-brick with basement annex
on the west side of the church, to replace an old frame building that had served for some 20 years. The new Fellowship
Hall was completed in early 1950's. At about the same time, the First Christian Church bulletin board on the north east
corner of the lot was built by Buster Robb, Maurice Easter and David O'Shields.
In April 2001, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was placed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
There are so many more details that can be read about in the
Centennial Celebration of the
First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
A pictorial and chronological history of our church from the files and memories of past and present members,
compiled by Roland and Jewel Earsom.
Contact the church office to get a copy.
