A New Century Church Building
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Membership growth at the turn of the century required the congregation to begin a building program for a new facility in 1903. The building committee was composed of chairman F.P. Howard, treasure A.H. Eyman, Mrs. M.P. Murphey, Rev. F.W. Burnham, and John Howell. The soliciting committee consisted of A.H. Eyman, Mrs. Sue T. Odor, L.B.C. Leffingwell, F.R. Bean, and F.P. Howard. Small 3" by 4 1/2" cardboard, two slot coin holders were made available for contributions with the inscription:
The final cost to the congregation was $30,000 with $10,030 collected on the day of dedication, Sunday, April 2, 1905. The plans for the new church were designed by R.O. Rosen featuring a brick and stone building on a corner lot with several entrances. The main entrance contained a vestibule whose floor was formed of red and white tiles with the word "Welcome" arranged in them. The general contractors were Jahr and Cooper of Champaign and Decatur. Most of the sub-contracting work was done by Decatur companies including Decatur Plumbing and Heating, Field and Shorb, Morehouse and Wells, painter Frank Meyer, and V.H. Parke and Son, plastering. The main auditorium held 450, was eight-sided with each side in the shape of an arch. A west and east arch each formed an entrance, three arches were composed of windows, the pulpit and choir loft occupied arches, and the last could be opened or closed to join the Sunday school room. The woodwork was of red oak, carefully selected and polished. The walls of the auditorium were painted a light green and terra cotta. The Sunday School room had a platform for the superintendent, chairs for the pupils, and curtains suspended so that classes could be separated from each other. The Sunday School room on the lower level opened into a hall with a parlor and large dining area and kitchen for church suppers. The hallway continued to the baptistry with dressing rooms for men and women. The hallway extended from the Edward Street entrance to the William Street entrance and allowed for church activities to occur without disturbing the main auditorium. The rooms were decorated in an old rose color with a deeper tone for the dining room. Most prominent in the new building were the art glass windows on the north side dedicated to a number of members of the church. The central window representing Christ as the Good Shepherd was dedicated in honor of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Tyler by their children. The window to the left of center was in honor of Judge W.E. Nelson, and the one to the right of center in honor of Judge W.L. Hammer. The window northeast of this main group was dedicated by the Boys' and Girls' club in honor of L.B.C. Leffingwell, the north window in honor of Mrs. Sue Odor by the Christian Women's Board of Missions, and the northwest window in honor of E. McNabb by his family. The other window to the northwest was dedicated in honor of Rev. Burnham. These windows contained lilies of the field, an open Bible with inscription, a harp, a sheaf of wheat with the words "I am the Bread of Life," a cup of grapes with the words "Do this in Remembrance of Me," and a cross and a crown. The cornerstone was laid on May 29, 1904. Some of the articles contained in the cornerstone were the roll of membership of the church, a copy of the Revised New Testament, copies of the Christian Standard and Christian Evangelist, souvenir program of the laying ceremony, copies of the Decatur Review of May 22 and Decatur Herald of May 27, 1904, blue prints of the new church, statistical reports, cut of the old church before being removed, and a calendar of Masonic lodges of Decatur. Some of the members at the ceremony who joined the church in the 1850's were Judge W.E. Nelson, Mrs. Joseph Hostetler, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Leforgee, Mrs. J.Q.A. Odor, Mrs. Sue Odor, and Mrs. W.E. Bingham. The Central Church of Christ was dedicated on Sunday, April 2, 1905. Services were held at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. with the actual dedication taking place at 7:30 p.m. Rev. J.H. Gilliland of Bloomington gave the dedicatory sermon and conducted revivals in the church during the following week. His sermon topic was "What Meanest These Stones?" with the text taken from Joshua 4:21. Professor DeLoss Smith, a singing evangelist from Chicago, was in charge of music. A.M. Hale of Illiopolis conducted the communion celebration at the 3 p.m. service which also included a number of greetings from Decatur businessmen, pastors, and other area pastors. Among these were the Elks lodge, Henry Bachrach, Rev. Horace Strain of the ministers' association, and Harry Patterson of the YMCA. At the 7:30 p.m. service, the keys were turned over by F.B. Howard, representing the building committee, to Judge W.E. Nelson, representing the trustees. A number of furnishings were also given to the church. These included the pulpit stand from Mills Lumber Co., the communion table from the Pritchett family, a large clock by H. Post and Son, and the pipe organ by Mrs. Murphey. The closing hymn was "Bless Be the Tie that Binds." The new building allowed the church to grow into the new century with seating for 800. The church building that had been moved from North and Main Streets to Edward street was now moved to Leafland and Warren Streets. Referred to as the Leafland Avenue Chapel, Rev. Burnham conducted gospel services there weekdays with a song service at 7:15 p.m. Subjects in 1904 included "A Study of New Testament Conversions," "The Gospel and Its Power," and "To the Far Country and Return." A message from the Decatur Brick Company in the front of the 1906 directory read:
The directory listed Mr. Chen Li Seng of Chu Cheo, China, as the native missionary of foreign field supported by the Central Church. Mrs. Sue T. Odor served as the local missionary secretary. Sunday services in 1906 were held at 10:45 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. with Bible school at 9:30 a.m. at Central and 3:00p.m. at the Leafland Chapel. Choir rehearsal was Friday evening at 7:30 with prayer meetings at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The social helpers met on the second Tuesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. and the Energetic Temperance Club on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Elders in 1906 were L.B.C. Leffingwell, F.W. Baugher, and Dr. F.J. Mittan with F.P. Howard, J.E. Patterson, and A.F. Ross as trustees. Clerk of the Church was F.P. Howard and A.H. Eyman was treasurer. The Bible school was supervised by J.E. Patterson with Clarabel Richardson as treasurer, A.F. Ross as librarian, and Miss Grace Wandel served as pianist. Primary grade teachers were Mrs. C. Severs and Mrs. Capitola Funk, and intermediate teachers included Miss Anna Schwab, Miss Neva Clifton, Miss Susie Mallory, and D.L. Parkhurst, Mrs. Sue Odor and Rev. J.T. Finley were teachers of the adult bible school. Committees of the Christian Endeavor Society were the lookout, prayer meeting, social, relief, music, missionary, and calling committees. The society supported an orphan boy in India. Social Helpers met monthly for social fellowship and to plan for services. Finances were managed on the calendar plan. Any person or persons who contributed daily was a "Day." The "Weeks" collected from the "Days," and the "Months" reported at each meeting. The Energetic Temperance Club was composed of temperate but energetic young people of high school age. They met at homes twice a month for social fellowship and benevolence to the church. Other departments of the church were the Men's Association, Junior Christian Endeavors, and the Auxiliary of the Christian Women Board of Missions. |
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Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336
email the webmaster at gbarron@cccdisciples.org