History of

First Christian Church

Rogersville, Tennessee

 

A tent meeting was held in July, 1938 by M.B. Miller of Mountain City and

R.E. Hendershot of Greenville, Illinois. Several persons agreed to become

charter members of a congregation of The Christian Church whenever it

was "advisable to organize". On September 3, 1939, a meeting was held in

the home of J.L. Shanks to purchase property on Depot Street in

Rogersville. The North Methodist Church and property was purchased for

$1,250.00.

 

On December 3, 1939, The Rogersville Christian Church was organized with

thirty-one charter members. The church met in the remodeled North

Methodist Church building until a new building could be built. In September

of 1948, groundbreaking for a new building was started on property bought

from Hawkins County for $1,000.00, which joined the church property. The

congregation moved into the basement of the new church in December of

1949. On October 8, 1950, the service of dedication was conducted by M.B.

Miller of Mountain City in the completed new building. The debt on the

building was paid off in 1958. The church later purchased a parsonage on

Douglas Drive in Rogersville and the old Shanks property adjacent to the

original property.