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Settlers' Religious Activities in Decatur
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Political, social, and economic needs were of great importance to the pioneers, but so were religious concerns. The Great Revival held at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in 1801 provided momentum for many of the Protestant denominations entering Illinois, including the Disciples of Christ. The slogan of this revival "The Bible Our Rule of Faith and Practice" provided inspiration for those organizing prairie churches. [Haynes,22] The first of prairie churches appeared in Wabash County in 1819 and were known as Barney's Prairie Church and Coffee Creek Church. Others followed throughout central Illinois with small congregations meeting in the log cabins of many of the village residents. Early religious activity in Macon County centered around pioneer preachers who used groves of trees for the church and log benches for pews. The sermon of these early shepherds revolved around homespun theology applied to the pioneer in the wilderness. The first organized church activity began in the Stevens settlement in 1829. Peter Cartwright became the presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church with 12 members that first year. [Smith, 175] The next major denominational organization was the Cumberland Presbyterian Church established in 1830 in Mt. Zion by David Foster with 36 members. [Smith, 178]
Situated on the west side of the square, services were held in the court house in 1833 by the pioneer preacher, Joseph Hostetler. Using the reform theology of the Cane Ridge Revival, he organized a small group of parishioners into the Christian Church of Macon County in 1834. The original log court house now stands on the Macon County Historical Society site near Northfork Church. |
The Christian Church had its beginning in
Decatur in the log court house built shortly after the plotting
of the city. This new church was formed within four years after
the founding of the city and about three years after the separation
of the denomination from the Baptists.|
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Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
(217) 428-4336
email the webmaster at gbarron@cccdisciples.org