Bedford First Christian Church (Bedford, Indiana)

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www.firstccbedford.com/

The history of any church consists of the history of many devoted individuals and their saintly contributions to the beginning and growth of the church. This church has been blessed with many such individuals, too many to name here. It is to there forebearers that we gratefully dedicate these words for the heritage that they have left us.

FOUNDATIONS: Many ancestors of those who eventually formed the First Christian Church came from North Carolina, residing briefly near the Cain Ridge Church in Kentucky. This congregation was teaching the Current Reformation in the American West. As the movement of peoples continued into southern Indiana, these beliefs came with them, including to the Leatherwood Christian Church in Lawrence County which was formed in 1830.

EARLY YEARS: The first messages were brought to Bedford in 1838, using the courthouse. A group of the Leatherwood Disciples began meeting in a home in Bedford, and in 1846 thirty-three charter members formed what eventually became the First Christian Church.

The first six years were marked by what were termed "social meetings," characterized by occasional guest speakers, including Alexander Campbell in 1850, a mutual ministry and the breaking of bread. The first minister came in 1852 and a two-story brick building to serve as a meeting was started in 1854. Until the first floor was completed, the congregation met either in the Presbyterian Church or the Baptist Meeting House, the brick structure now used by W.F. Meyer Co. Only the first floor was used until 1863, when the building was finally completed.

During these early years, the congregation grew both in numbers, to 809 members by the turn of the century, and in its distinctive character. Sunday School was started and flourished. And both the Women's Aid Society and Women's Missionary Society were started.

THE GROWTH YEARS: In the 1890's several successful evangelistic meetings were held resulting in significant additions to the church membership. With this growth, a new church was deemed necessary. Thus, in 1900 the cornerstone of the present structure was laid. The dedication service was held in May of 1901.

With the new church structure, an unprecedented evangelistic zeal unfolded, along with an equally unprecedented growth in the church. Over the next 25 years membership rose to over 2000. Bible School attendance rose to an average of 667. Under the influence of our church and its minister, fourteen rural churches closed by World War I and the influenza epidemic were reopened, two new churches formed and three church buildings erected. The "Little Brick" building was purchased and developed into a youth center. A secretary, music director and janitor were added to the church staff. Many internal improvements to the church itself came during this period.

THE YEARS OF CHALLENGE: The depression years and World War II brought many difficulties and challenges to the church. Yet the church continued to develop and even manage to extend its evangelistic spirit in the form of many revivals, formalizing visitation, establishing a new Women's Society, starting both Girl and Boy Scout troops and the institution of religious education in the public schools. Through the church office, communication was maintained with the two hundred men and women from our church that were in service.

It was during this period that the church recognized the evangelistic opportunities of "The Larger Church." Associations with several community, state, national and even world wide ministerial, church and missionary societies were established and actively pursued.

THE MATURING YEARS: Starting into the second century of its existence, The First Christian Church was a fully mature, functioning church, in terms of the building structure, its programs and its activities. Its membership was now 1100, the largest of all Bedford churches and among the top ten Disciples Churches in Indiana. The growth in programs was reflected in the church engaging a succession of Assistant Pastors beginning in the 1950's to help with the many pastoral and educational duties of the church.

The year 1960 saw the largest renovation that had ever occurred to the sixty year old church. Nearly everything inside the church was replaced, redone or repainted. The annex and house to the west were removed and replaced with a lighted parking lot, and new entrance doors with lights were installed. In 1963 the new pipe organ was installed along with a new baptistry and a remodeled chancel area which were integrated into the design.

In 1973 the Carillon Chimes were installed and dedicated. The same year a church library was formed with many additions added to the collection of volumes already on hand. It was subsequently registered with the Christian Board of Publication.

Great missionary foresight was shown in the purchase of Camp Bedford from the Indiana Disciples of Christ in 1973. The rehabilitation and maintenance of the camp and its facilities has consumed much funding and countless hours of time by a devoted church family. however, the impact of this facility on the thousands of persons who have used it for men and women's retreats, for day camps, for youth of our church and other churches and for other special events is beyond measure. A swimming pool was added in 1975.

The largest single addition to the church occurred in 1986 when the parsonage was torn down and a substantial addition started. The expanded facilities were dedicated in September 1987. The old Sunday School class rooms were made into a large Fellowship Hall next to a large kitchen. A large addition to the building on the west permitted returning the main offices to the church and adding a parlor, a library and nursery as well as several class rooms on the lower level. Just recently the church organ was refitted with retuned pipes and new electronics. And a new sound system was installed allowing for better coverage in the sanctuary.

While the church had emphasized evangelism and missionary work throughout its history, in the latter years these works took something of a different direction. Certainly, the traditional programs, such as extensive youth programs, women and other adult groups and activities and support of the larger church continued and have indeed flourished. But now a more outward emphasis toward community and even the world took form. It was as though the installation of the Carillon told the community that The First Christian Church is here to serve you.

The church camp has provided a strong evangelistic tool to reach out to the young people and adults throughout southern and central Indiana. The expansion and remodeling of the church building itself has permitted a strong role in community outreach as these beautiful facilities have been made available to all who wish to make use of them. The church is currently finishing up a two year project of adding a new Retreat Center Building that overlooks the White River. This new addition will allow use of the camp year round.

The congregation regularly supports community outreach through many programs such as collecting and distributing blankets, coats, mittens and Cheer Plates at Thanksgiving and Christmas to those in need. They also support L.I.F.E. food pantry and Adopt-a-Family at Christmas and provide tutoring programs for children.

Community Outreach has even extended beyond the borders of the state and country through many young people and adults, singly and in groups, traveling to distant parts of the country and world to help in both construction and evangelism projects. This has included trips to Honduras, Puerto Rico, the Yakima Indian reservation in Washington, and even to Russia.

It is fitting that this history end with a report of a very proud moment in the life of our church, Sunday May 30, 1993, when one of our own children, Kevin Phipps, was ordained into the ministry at the Sharpsburg Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky. Reverend Phipps represents so well the spirit and heritage of The First Christian Church.