The early church dates back to the 1800's before there was a town
in the area. On December 4, 1856 the Fairview Christian Church was
founded. The church was located one mile north of Sesser on Route
148 and to the east on the road past the Rome Spotanski farm. There
was no road north at that time. Some of the early members were: John
Kirkpatrick, Francis Kirkpatrick, John Walker, George Kirkpatrick
and Matthew Cockrum.
The First Christian Church of Sesser was organized in April, 1908.
The old Fairview Christian Church had disbanded a few years earlier
due to most of the members having moved to Sesser There were
eighteen of the original members. Two sisters, Flossie Kirkpatrick
Mabus and Bertha Kirkpatrick were baptized and added to the number.
The group rented a hall above the Epperson and Moak General Store on
Main Street where they held services for several months. The store
was located where The Print Shop is now. Later they moved their
place of worship to _a small house on the northwest corner of Locust
and Matthew Streets.
In the summer of 1909 a decision was made to build a permanent
meeting place. There were two carpenters in the newly organized
church and with the help of the other members construction began.
The First Christian Church building was completed in the spring of
1910 and a dedication service was held on March 26 of the same year.
The church located on West Callie Street is still being used for
services and has retained its original name.
The original members, when the church was organized, were: M/M
Francis M. Kirkpatrick, M/M Thomas M. Kirkpatrick, M/M William C.
Kirkpatrick, M/M Matthew Cockrum, M/M Earl Hill, M/M Elmer Clayton,
M/M William Burkitt, Tina K. Foster, Gertrude Crouch, Dorothy Isom,
Flossie K. Mabus, Bertha K. Rogers and Mr. Will Harris.
The first minister to serve the church was Mr. Lige Collins, of Mt.
Vernon, who served faithfully for several years. The two ministers
who served the longest were Mr. John G. Parson of Mt. Vernon, with
thirteen years of service and Mr. McKinley Crabtree of Johnston
City, who served ten years.
The early church grew fast and many were added in the first years.
The first members baptized in the new church were twins, Delia
Braden and Rella Newberry, daughters of Monroe Franklin Roberson.
Others who followed were the O. S. Martels, Roy A. Gulleys, Robert
Silkwoods, John Smiths, Byron Hills, A. C. Webbs, Mark Gerths, Ben
Winns, Edgar Pipers, Bert Lucas, Wright Gulleys, Thomas Dochertys,
Worth Minors, Gladys Stone and A. A. Andrews.
Many others had part in the growth of the church, some of whom we
can't recall.
Ministers who proclaimed God's Word from the pulpit were, as
recalled, Mr. McMurray, Reed, Childs, Griffon, Trabue, John Lord,
Bill Gage, R. P. Hayes, John G. Parsons, Charles Cooper, Marion
Boles, Irl Sidwell, Don Arnold, Len Faull and others.
Those listed on existing records are as follows:
1951 McKinley Crabtree
September 1961 Bill Jenkins
October 1962 Floyd Stabler
June 1965 Harvel Ayers
January 1967 Bob Grider
July 1969 John Plunkett
February 1974 Dallas Skidmore
May 1976 Rod Marlow
January 1977 Dan Williams
Some of the evangelists who held revivals in the earlier years of
the church were: Mr. Savage, Duncan, The Stramboughs, Foster an'
Atterbaum, Sam P. Jones, known as the "Walking Bible," Virgil P.
Brocl and wife Blanche, with seventy additions during a ten day
meeting. Son* of the songs they wrote appear in our present hymnals.
There was also the McGees, a husband and wife team. She was a chalk
artist. Numerous others have followed in recent years.
The original building was one large room (auditorium) lighted with
kerosene lamps which hung on the walls. All classes met in separate
locations in the auditorium.
The building was heated by a coal burning pot bellied stove which
stood in the center of the auditorium. Chairs were used for pews.
The first musical instrument was a reed organ. Mima Hill was the
first organist. Thomas Kirkpatrick, superintendent and song leader
and Melissa Cockrum, nursery superintendent. She also fixed
communion for a number of years.
The baptistery was located under the pulpit. A raised lid had a
picture painted on it to serve as a background during baptismal
services. The baptistery was filled as needed and the water was
unheated. One night after services a baptismal service was held at a
borrow pit east of Sesser. Car lights were used to illuminate the
area.
The bell, which still hangs in the belfry, has been there since the
building was erected and is rung before each Sunday morning service.
In the 1930's, when J. G. Parsons was minister, times were hard and
paying the minister his small salary was difficult. It was then that
the ladies of the church got together to help. They met at a
member’s home to prepare and can fruits for the parson's family.
Cooking was done outside with a tub placed over an open fire.
Through the efforts of the high school class (ages 7th grade through
college age) and their teacher money was raised to help the church.
Bread and doughnuts were baked in the teacher’s home and delivered
by members of the class to people around town. They also held ice
cream suppers on the church lawn.
The church had an active group of young people who held Christian
Endeavor each Sunday evening before the church hour. Youth groups
from the Methodist, Epworth League and the Baptist B.Y.P.U. met with
our group and we met with them at each of the churches. There was
often as many as fifty youth in attendance. Families also attended
revivals wherever they were held. _
The church presented Easter and Christmas programs which always drew
a large attendance. These were plays directed by Theodore Stone.
Some very impressive plays were presented with colored flares used
for lighting effects. Mr. Stone also directed a play, "The Wild Oats
Boy," given by the high school class and presented at the high
school gym. At another time the adults of the church presented a "Ministral
Show" at the Opera House. Some of that cast were Doc Veach, Trilby
Bradley, Bertha Rogers, and Harry and Ellen Cockrum.
Sunrise services were held at the church with the youth group being
served breakfast at a members home after the service. There were
also progressive suppers.
Quilting has been a part of the church fellowship for a long time.
The ladies have helped with church projects aside from quilting for
themselves. In years past they made articles to send to the
Christian Women's Benevolent Association, in St. Louis, to be sold
at their bazaar. The first quilting was done before we had a
basement. The ladies quilted in the auditorium in the area where the
piano is now located.
During World War II the quilting group helped raise money to erect a
service board on Main Street where Small World Fashions is now.
There were many young men from Sesser and the surrounding area whose
names appeared on the Honor Roll. Some of them from the First
Christian Church.
Since the records of the early years were destroyed by a fire, there
is no record of board meetings until October 9, 1930. At that time
the board consisted of Elders, Deacons, Trustees and Deaconesses.
The minister and janitor wages were small, as was everyone’s wages
at that time. The minister was paid twenty-five dollars a week for
Saturday night and two services on Sunday. The janitor received
fifty cents a week.
In the middle thirties we started sending birthday pennies to the
Christian Orphanage in St. Louis. They are still being sent only now
they go to the Christian Women's Benevolent Association.
The basement was added in the early part of the 1930's. Men of the
church dug the basement.
Our first identifying sign was erected by J. G. Parsons. It was a 3
x 2 ft. board covered by a glass door and stood west of the front
steps.
The A. A. Andrews family donated the pulpit stand, also the
communion table and chairs. New pews were added and it was decided
that tile should be put on the auditorium.
In the 1940's a number of projects were accomplished. The pulpit
stand was lowered to floor level, pulpit light purchased, rest rooms
installed and a coal bin built.
The year 1948 marked the additions of our first parsonage. The house
was purchased and moved to the lot east of Tom Harles. Bill Gage was
the first minister to occupy the parsonage. A number of improvements
were made.
In the forties and fifties the Loyal Worker's Class had numerous
bake sales, passed the basket with goodies, measured waists, had a
dime a day plan and other things. These were done to raise funds for
various projects such as buying hymnals, replacing the front steps,
chairs, tables, enclosing the back porch at the parsonage, etc.
The church had purchased the present parsonage around the
mid-fifties and the McKinley Crabtree family was the first to live
there.
Again many projects large and small were accomplished. Classrooms
were added to the north side of the building, a baptistery was built
at this time and a background picture painted. Members of the church
stripped the varnish from the wood around the lower walls of the
auditorium and refinished them, walls were painted, window moldings
replaced and the piano refinished.
There were two carpenters hired to build the classrooms and the men
helped. Many tasks were accomplished by volunteer labor.
Pews received a coat of varnish and wax and a number of
improvements were made at the parsonage.
The church also added fluorescent lights and the neon sign on the
front of the building. A large window fan was placed in the
southeast corner of the auditorium to help cool the building and a
furnace and stoker were installed.
A class of young boys and their teacher raised money to purchase a
new organ in the early sixties. Some of these boys were also
appointed to act as junior Deacons.
The Men and Women's Bible Class had carpets laid in the auditorium
in 1961. This class has always been willing to help with any project
started to aid the church and have had numerous projects of their
own.
In the early sixties missionary work became more prevalent. Funds
were donated to the Coal Belt Evangelistic Association to help build
The Western Heights Christian in Carbondale. We helped Bill Gage who
was then a missionary in Barbados. Others were added in 1964 until
today the church has a strong missionary program. The Loyal Workers
Class sends support to missionary, John Hoyt. This class and the
Lamplighters Class share in supporting Southern Illinois University
Campus Missions at Carbondale.
A new piano was purchased and paid for largely by individual
donations and some class help. Elders and Deacons were ordained
September 14, 1969.
The Lamplighters Class remodeled the baptistery and have since had
different projects such as carpeting the parsonage, concreting the
area between the walk and street and other things. This class and
the Men and Women's Bible Class put in the present lights. The Loyal
Workers class added the two lights in the belfry and basement
entrance.
Walks east of the church were poured and the area east of the steps
concreted, gas heat was installed, a church library was located at
the top of the stairs leading to the classrooms, a kitchen complete
with cabinets and appliances was a welcome addition. The poured
floor and lights made the job complete.
An addition was made to the parsonage, aluminum siding put on both
buildings, outside lights added, awnings put up. Other improvements
include a new roof, carpet on the front steps, paneling in the
basement stairwell, stained glass windows replaced and other things.
In the early 1970's air conditioning was added to the improvements
previously made.
A new nursery complete with a rest room and small table and chairs
were added. Storm windows were installed, west side of church was
rocked and tile put in to make a place for parking. The building was
insulated and a study made available for the minister.
The church had two directories made in recent years and four
cookbooks have been printed.
The ladies in past years met each year to give the church a thorough
cleaning. They have also taken turns, since the late forties,
preparing the communion table a month at a time. Before that time
one person did this for long periods and was done by whoever cared
to volunteer.
Through the years the church has been fortunate to have many people
whose willingness and talent have added to the work of the church
and its services. These include elders, deacons, qualified Sunday
School teachers, officers of the board, trustees, superintendents,
singers, soloists and groups, song leaders and musicians. Those who
have served the families of deceased members both in the past and
present, those who worked as teachers, kitchen and dining room help
at Southern Illinois Christian Service Camp in West Frankfort and
all who have contributed their time in many other ways. There have
been many people who attended the services and gave of their
resources.
The First Christian Church has had numerous activities through the
years. Bible study is held on Wednesday evening, Sunday services
held each week, board meetings, Vacation Bible School, class
meetings and quilting. There have also been picnics, both church and
class picnics, outings for the young children, youth meetings,
children's church, a nursery provided and a host of other things too
numerous to mention. In years past we had a children's choir, men's
meetings, Christian Women's Fellowship meetings and even tent
meetings.
Two men from the church went on to become ministers. They are Frank
Veach and Joe Veach. Recently John Franklin has entered Lincoln
Christian Seminary.
The original members are gone but the example they and others have
set has been established as a memorial to them and to the church.
Their memory will remain, with all who knew them, for many years.
Without the untiring efforts of all those who have served so
faithfully since those early years the church wouldn't be what it
is today. The past seventy-five years have taken the efforts of all
people involved to carry on the Lord's work and preserve our place
of worship, which is one of the few landmarks left in Sesser.
The history committee has asked me to add a few words about the new
educational unit that we have been using since last October. It is,
I think, an inspiring story, one which demonstrates the power of God
to use dedicated servants. Nearly everybody in the church body, and
some from outside, participated in this effort.
It began, in a sense, many years ago. Several times in our past the
members had spoken of the desirability of constructing new
facilities. The old ones which had served us so well were beginning
to show the signs of advanced age. Finally about three years ago it
was decided that the time had come to move. Numerous discussions
were held in board meetings and among individual groups about the
nature of the new building. Finally a vote was put to the
congregation as to its desire. Four options were available. 1. Do
not build at all. 2. Build an educational unit now. 3. Construct an
auditorium now. 4. Construct both now. By an overwhelming majority
it was determined to do something now, although there was a
considerable split as to exactly what to do. After much
soul-searching it was decided to construct an educational unit 40'
x 120' across the northern border of our property. The congregation
concurred in this decision. The project was begun in the spring of
1981. A spirit of cooperation was evident from the beginning. Each
age group seemed to vie with the others to show the most interest
and help. The project went quickly with only a few setbacks.
Literally thousands of dollars worth of donated labor enabled us to
construct the building for less than $15 per square foot. Normal
costs today exceed $40 per square foot. Donations of money came from
many sources within the church and some without. In the midst of all
of this it was decided to purchase the lots across the street for
$10,000. These were mostly paid for with one special Sunday
offering.
In all we have constructed a building conservatively valued at
$150,000 for less than half of that. We presently owe only $13,500
on it. Surely God has indicated His approval of the project by
blessing our efforts. So praise God for His blessing and thanks to
each of you for your valuable cooperation which has made this
possible. "Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain who
build it."
EPH.3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and
height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth all knowledge,
that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
