LaGrange Christian Church had its'
beginning in the year 1845. A small group of believers joined what
was then known as "The Disciples." This group adopted the phrase,
"Christians Only, Not the Only Christians." They were seeking a
brotherhood that stressed Christianity as a life-style and not a one
day-a-week experience.
Services were held in the Masonic
Building. This was an old wooden structure located where the Duerson
Library now stands. They continued to hold services there until 1866
at which time the building collapsed.
A member of the congregation, brother William Sale, donated a
lot for a new church to be built. The lot was located on the
northeast corner of Jefferson and Walnut Streets where the Clore and
Duncan Building now stands. A small one-room brick church was
erected. At his time the Church had around 160 members.
The Church served all races within the community. There was
no baptistry in the church, consequently new converts were baptized
in Field's Pond on Old Jericho Road east of LaGrange. The Church
practiced closed membership until 1971, when as a congregation, it
recognized all forms of baptism.
The Church continued to add to its number and thus more room
was needed. A lot was donated at 1st Avenue and Madison Street by
Miss Minnie Ellis for the construction of a new church.The year was
1926. Pledges were taken, plans were drawn up but before
construction could begin the depression came and the local bank
failed, taking with it the $5,000 in paid up pledges given toward
the new building.
The congregation then decided to excavate under the small
church and build a basement. This would give additional room until
the time they could build a new facility. Because of an unusually
wet spring, the rain weakened the foundation and the church
collapsed. One lady was quoted as saying "Praise the Lord, now we
can have our new church."
And have their new church they did! Again pledges were
taken and construction was begun August 18,1935. The building was
completed and dedicated October 11, 1936. The mortgage was burned
two years later in 1938.
In January 1944, the Church purchased the
residence at 207 N. First Avenue for a parsonage at a cost of
$7,700. The mortgage was burned July 15, 1945.
By 1954 the Church
had grown so that they were again looking for a way to expand.
Pledges once more were taken and remodeling and construction of
a new educational facility began in the spring of l954. This
building program was done at a cost of $68,000. The debt was
retired by 1957. When the educational facility was added
the sanctuary and entrance to the church were changed. The
entrance was now on Madison Street and the altar was now at the east
end of the sanctuary.
In 1972, through the generous bequest of Miss Harrie
Ratcliffe, the church added new classrooms by refinishing the
upstairs of the Education building. About this same time a new
parsonage was purchased at 407 N. Fifth Avenue in LaGrange.
In the past two years, the narthex, nursery, bathrooms, and
Pastors' study were renovated and a new, larger entrance was
installed. New carpeting throughout completed this
phase.
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