Greene County, Indiana

Bloomfield 1st Christian Church

1st Christian church – organized 27 Dec. 1874 by Rev. Brinkerhoff. First members were: William Templeton, George W. Upfold, John T. Lamb, Francis M. Dugger, Abigail "Abbie" Dugger, Riley S. Quillen, Almira/Elmira Quillen, Hannah Upfold, Sarah J. Upfold, Hannah Upfold, Nancy E. Lamb, Margaret "Maggie" Kissell, Elizabeth Templeton, & Rebecca/Jennie Templeton.

This group met in the homes of interested persons for two years before the church was organized. The congregation appointed George Upfold and John Lamb as leaders of the congregation. Samuel T. Axtell was the first Sunday School Superintendent.

The original red brick building was erected in 1876 at the corner of Spring and Jefferson Streets at a cost of $3,000

The last service held in it on 14 May 1911 which it was sold and tore down and material used to build a store in the south part of town. The church was rebuilt in 1912 on the same site as the original brick building. The building was of the Akron style edfice. Elder George Snively of Illinois was speaker for the dedication service.

Both structures were almost debt free at the time of dedciation.

There are companion stain glass windows in the sanctuary that commemorate the names of the charter members and the officiary when the second church was built. also honored wiith an inscription on one of the larger windows is Thomas A. Cox who served two terms as pastor.

Music has changed through the years from congregational sining with a tuning fork; to set the pitch to organ, to piano, and now a robed choir is accompanied by both piano and electric organ.

A departmentalized church shcool has been an integral part of the church program through out the 20th century. A vacation bible school was added during the 1920's as a cooperative with the other churches in Bloomfield.

Womens' program originated in the late 1800's as the Christian Missionary Society promoted foreign missons and the Ladies' Aid Society for material support of the local church. In 1949 the two groups were combined into a single organization called CWF-Christian Women's Fellowship.

During the 1960's when the Christian church was restructuring the Bloomfield church chose to affiliate with the Christain CHurch [Disciples of Christ] whose headquarters was in Indianapolis.

It remains autonomoous in fiscial and property matter as well as the selection of mininster and staff, who are responsible to the general board composed of Elders, deacons and trustees.

The of the 37 minisiters who have served the congregation some of the known ones are: J. H. Brinkerhoff, E. H. Floyd, Robert M. Blount, W. B. F. Treat, William Ingram, Joel Dillen, T. M. Wiles, Joseph Franklin, W. N. Littell, Thomas A. Cox served 1889-92 & 1895-99, Quincy Short, J. K. Speer, I. C. Stone, Marion Egolf, D. W. Campbell, W. M. Sexson, Lewis F. Drash, H. A. Blake, John A. Spencer, Merrit Owen, O. R. Keller, J. W. Moody, A. W. Craig, R. H. Jones, R. S. Rains, Ronald L. Secrist, Paul M. Boyer, C. W. Layton, Henry J. Taylor, Verl A. Underwood and Eldon L. Haley. The minister in 1958 was R. Lee Henney.

Last updated 22.10.2009