Editing First Christian Church (Springfield)

{{Lane_County_Buildings|
|image=
|image_description=
|building_name=First Christian Church
|style=Georgian
|construction=[[September 19]], [[1948]]
|destruction=
|architect=[[Bentlay, Percy D.|Percy D. Bentlay]]
|owner=
|initial_use=Church
|square_footage=
|height=
|city=[[Springfield]]
|area=[[Washburne]]
|address=[[4th Street (Springfield)|4th]] and [[A Street (Springfield)|North A street]]s
|zip_code=[[:Category:97477|97477]]
|importance=Early historical church

}}

==History==
===Foundation to 1904===
Springfield Christian Church dates to the [[:Category:1860s|1860s]]. It is affiliated with the [[Pioneer Cemetery (Springfield)|Pioneer Cemetery]], which was formally established in [[1866]], even though a grave stone dated [[1848]] indicates the burial site may have been used much earlier.

Old church rolls of the Springfield [[First Christian Church (Springfield)|First Christian]] indicate that a congregation was formed sometime before [[1872]]. The old church roll shows that [[Spencer, Mary Ann|Mary Ann Spencer]] and [[McPherson, Pierson Montgomery|P.M. McPhearson]] were members of the congregation before their marriage in that year.  Dates on the tombstones in the old church yard indicate the cemetery was in use as early as the death of [[Mackey, James|James Mackey]] in [[1848]]. Three of the six names which are given as forming the cemetery association in October [[1866]], appear on the earliest church roll. In [[1873]] the denomination ran a school (Murphy 1873:254). Records show there was an election of officers and re-organization on [[December 31]], [[1879]].

The Christian Church was erected near the [[Pioneer Cemetery (Springfield)|Pioneer Cemetery]] on [[Willamette Heights]] in [[1880]] (Graham 1878c). None of these early church buildings have survived. The first church building was located on the hill south of the old railroad tracks, on land donated by [[Briggs, Isaac|Isaac Briggs]], founder of Springfield. This building was completed in [[1880]] according to records by [[McPherson, Preston James|P.J. McPherson]], clerk at the time.

===1905 to 1924===

On lot 4 of block 41, the [[First Christian Church (Springfield)|First Christian Church]] was built and remained there until approximately [[1905]] when it moved to it's present street location 
at [[4th Street (Springfield)|4th]] and [[A Street (Springfield)|North A street]]s. It was remodeled and an addition was made in [[1907]]. That structure burned in [[1922]] and the congregation met upstairs in a building at the corner od [[3rd Steet (Springfield)|3rd Street]] and [[Main Street (Springfield)|Main Street]] until [[1924]] when the new building was completed. 

===1924 to 1981===
This building burned the last Sunday in December, [[1945]].

The cornerstone was laid for the new buildings on Sunday [[March 23]], [[1947]] at 3:00 P.M. at 4th anf North "A" Streets. [[Bentlay, Percy D.|Percy D. Bentlay]] was the architect and [[Shields, W.H.|W.H. Shields]] was the contractor. It is a fire-proof building, constructed of masonry blocks. The sanctuary is simple, yet beautiful in its design. The church was dedicated on [[September 19]], [[1948]].

The Springfield Christian Church was chosen to be shown in model and picture at the International Convention of Christian Churches in [[1948]] at San Francisco, California. It was the model church of the year because of its harmonious styling anf its modern functional design.

In [[1972]] it became necessary to expand this building again. The mortgage was burned on [[January 11]], [[1976]].

The Springfield Church has grown to its present participating membership of 414. During the pastoral leadership of James Fraley, the church provided leadership and financial assistance for the establishment of the Northwood Christian Church of Springfield in [[1962]].

Members of the church have actively served on the Regional Board and its committees and commissions. During his ministey at Springfield, Earl Gibbs served as President of the Christian Church in Oregon in [[1970]]; Marjorie Moshier served as State Chairman for Children's Work; Rae Nell directed the C.W.F. Retreat at Menucha in [[1971]]; Zola Ehlers chaired the C.W.F. [[1976]] Dall Retreats; and Sharon Warner is vice president of the Christian Church in Oregon for [[1976]] to [[1977]]. Some have served at [[Northwest Christian College]]; Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Moon and Hattie Mitchell were missionaries in the Belgian Congo, and  the present pastor, Ed McIndoo was president of the Turner Christian Convention for [[1977]]. Mr. McIndoo began his ministry at the Springfield Church on January 15, [[1975]].

In November, [[1977]] Arlene Peightal became the Associate Pastor of the Church with special assignments in areas of Christian education.  In April, [[1980]] she was elected president of the Christian Church in Oregon.

==Ministers==

===Beginning to 1904===

Erickson, [[1895]] preached first on the hill.

[[Cook, J.A.C.|J.A.C. Cook]], [[March 21]], [[1880]]. One year.

[[Callison, Rufus|Rufus Callison]]

[[Mulkey, I.N.|I.N. Mulkey]], [[1896]].

Rev. Looney to work for provisions and house rent.

[[Olson, D.E.|D.E. Olson]], [[1901]]

Dr. Moon preached one sermon on the hill.

[[Holmes, J.B.|J.B. Holmes]], Evangelist, church reorganized October [[1903]]

[[Green, L.D.|L.D. Green]], [[1904]]. Preached first and third Sunday for a year.

===1905 to 1924===

[[Orrick, J.M.|J.M. Orrick]], [[1906]]. Hired for $400 a year.

[[Emmons, E.J.|E.J. Emmons]], [[1907]]. He filled in after Orrick.

[[Titus, Frank|Frank Titus]].

[[Wigmore, E.C.|E.C. Wigmore]], [[April 6]], [[1908]] to [[August 24]], [[1916]]. He died in office at 54 years old.

[[Jensen, Chris|Chris Jensen]] [[1916]] to [[1917]]. He entered World War I.

[[Leavitt, Teddy|Teddy Leavitt]] and [[Leavitt, Linda|Linda Leavitt]], [[McCallum, J.S.|J.S. McCallum]], [[1917]].

[[Childers, S. Earl|S. Earl Childers]], [[1918]].

[[Sayter, A.G.|A.G. Sayter]], [[1922]] to [[1923]]. First church burned.

[[Pointer, Jim|Jim Pointer]] [[1924]]. 

S. Earl Childers preached again. This time from [[1925]] to [[1928]].

[[Dunn, R.L.|R.L. Dunn]], 4 months in [[1929]]

[[Pruitt, Veltie|Veltie Pruitt]], [[1929]] to [[1935]]. He resigned to go to the Eugene Church.

[[Hollister, Ren|Ren Hollister]] filled in, [[1935]].

[[Shaw, I.G.|I.G. Shaw]], [[1935]].

===1924 to 1980===

[[O'Brien, Claude|Claude O'Brien]], [[1935]] to [[1950]].

[[Moon, E.R.|Dr. E.R. Mooon]], [[1950]] to [[1953]].

[[Larson, Howard|Howard Larson]] preached for a short time.

[[Worden, Ernest|Ernest Worden]], [[October 1]], [[1953]] to [[September 30]], [[1955]]

Howard Larsen, [[1956]] to [[1957]].

[[Fraley, Jim|Jim Fraley]], [[November 23]], [[1958]] to [[1964]].

[[Rice, Ward|Ward Rice]] temporarily filled in.

[[Metcalf, J.E.|J.E. Metcalf]], [[1964]] for 4 months.

[[Gibbs, C. Earl|C. Earl Gibbs]], [[June 21]], [[1964]] to [[June 23]], [[1974]].

[[Powell, Robert|Robert Powell]] filled in.

Ward Rice was interim from [[1974]] to [[1975]].

[[McIndoo, Ed|Ed McIndoo]], [[1975]] to [[1981]].

===1981 to Present===

Hensley, interim, November, [[1981]] to May, [[1982]].

[[Decker, David|David Decker]], [[June 27]], [[1982]] to [[June 1]], [[1986]].

[[Eggelston, David|David Eggelston]], 1 month

[[Buck, Carlton|Dr. Carlton Buck]], interim, [[July 13]], [[1986]].

[[Stater-West, Barry|Barry Stater-West]], [[August 2]], [[1987]] to August 2, [[1992].

[[Evans, Frederick|Frederick Evans]], interim [[September 13]], [[1992]] to [[June 6]], [[1993]].

[[Harry, Sean P|Dr. Sean P. Harry]], [[June 13]], [[1993]] to [[July 31]], [[1998]].

Michael Kennedy, Interim, [[August 1]], [[1998]] to [[April 30]], [[1999]]

Jim & Sharron Kay Womack, 1999 to 2006

[[Gibbs, Earl|Earl Gibbs]], Interim, September, [[2006]] to July [[2007]]


[[Curtis, Erin|Erin Curtis]], [[July 15]], [[2007]] to Present.

[[Category:Springfield]] [[Category:Springfield religious structures]]
[[Category:Washburne]]
[[Category:A Street (Springfield)]] [[Category:97477]]