First Christian Church Collection

Ca. 1900-1994

5.48 linear feet

Collection Number 224

Prepared by Kathie Bordelon
October 2006

CITATION: The First Christian Church Collection, Collection No. 224, Box number, Folder number,
Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University.

Archives and Special Collections Department

Frazar Memorial Library

McNeese State University

Historical Sketch

The First Christian Church of Lake Charles had its beginning in 1894, when Elder A. J. Bush of Texas came to the town of Lake Charles and found 15 members of the Disciples of Christ. By November of 1895, the membership had increased to 40 and full time minister, Reverend Claude L. Jones was called. Early members of the congregation included J. J. Carrell, J. M. Sutherland, C. E. Hickman, D. C. Brown, and D. O. Cross.

By the end of 1896, a church had been constructed at the corner of Iris and Hodges Streets and remained there until the disastrous fire that swept the central part of the city on April 23, 1910. The fire destroyed millions of dollars worth of property including the parish courthouse with all records of every description. At least two church buildings were destroyed, the Catholic Church and the First Christian Church. An interesting sidelight to the fire occurred when the piano was removed from the building to prevent it being destroyed but was burned due to the intense heat and the insurance company refused to pay for the loss of the piano stating that it had been removed and was not part of the contents of the building.

The Jewish Synagogue, Temple Sinai, was made available for worship service through the generosity of that congregation.

Negotiations began immediately for the purchase of property for a new church and a lot at the corner of Hodges and Kirby Streets was purchased. Plans were made for the erection of a temporary building and the building was ready for occupancy by December 1911. This temporary structure was referred to as a “tabernacle” and consisted of one large room. However, by April 1914, the building was overcrowded and plans were made for the addition of several rooms. The church continued to add new members through the years and the congregation continued to worship in the temporary structure.

The great depression of the 1930s followed by World War II in the 40s delayed plans for a permanent structure.

By 1948 plans were underway to acquire land south or east of the city for construction of a permanent building. A site on Second Avenue between Orchid and 17^th Streets was selected and finalized at a congregation meeting on June 25, 1950.

Dunn and Quinn were chosen as architects for the new structure and the construction firm of F. Miller and Sons was chosen to build the church. A grateful congregation learned that Frank Miller supervised the construction at no cost to the church.

Ground breaking ceremonies were held on October 17, 1954 and the new building was occupied on June 19, 1955.

The first services set new records in attendance in all departments and within one year it was necessary to hold two worship services on Sunday morning to accommodate the increase in membership.

In order to accommodate the increase in Sunday School attendance, plans were made to build a church school building on the east side of the church and in October 1957, the new class room building was completed at a cost of $36,000.00.

With the opening of Chennault Air Base in 1958, all records of attendance were broken at the church. However, following the closure of the base a few years later, there was a decline in membership, but a larger fellowship hall was needed and this project was completed in 1973.

Today, the church serves the community in many different ways. The church houses the Oak Park Food Pantry. Six churches joined forces in 1988 to open the Pantry, which has now served over 6200 families and gave out 250 Thanksgiving baskets in 1993 alone.

The Men’s and Women’s Fellowship groups are extremely active with community projects that include fixing old bicycles and giving them to the Salvation Army to be distributed at Christmas; preparing stockings and dolls to be used at Christmas; working with and supporting agencies such as Habitat for Humanity, Harbor House, Ulster Project, Family Shelter, Women’s Shelter, Nursing Homes, The Lord’s Place, and the Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

In addition, the church sponsors Boy Scout Troop 10 and provides meeting places for TOPS, Gambler’s Anonymous, AARP, Girl Scouts, Brownies, and tutoring for the Literacy Council. Being very ecumenical in nature, the church participates in various community services and programs.

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains written histories of the First Christian Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana, including the centennial history published in 1994. Materials used to write and illustrate the histories are also included in the collection, primarily photographs, minutes of meetings, a scrapbook, newsletters, financial materials and correspondence.

Container List

Box	Folder	Description
1	1	Histories of the First Christian Church A Statement of History and Remembrance May 1978 Historical Summary of First Christian Church 1994 Record of the Beginning and Growth of the First Christian Church, Lake Charles, LA 1894-1956 Newspaper clipping from Lake Charles American Press concerning 100^th anniversary of the church, April 24, 1994 Centennial History 1894-1994, The First Christian Church, Lake Charles, LA, by Joe Cash Negatives of photographs used in Cash’s history
	2	Church Collection Account Book, weekly contributions of the First Christian Church November 1900 – December 1912
	3	Minutes of Meetings 1914-1921, contains articles of incorporation and record of recording (from front cover, but not sure articles of incorporation are actually in the book – does contain minutes of regular and annual meetings)
	4	History of First Christian Churches in Louisiana - Central Christian Church – Shreveport; First Christian Church in Leesville, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Greater New Orleans, Slidell, Monterrey, Sulphur, Hammond, Bossier City, Mandeville, and King’s Highway
	5	The Christian Caller 1960-1963, newsletter of First Christian in Lake Charles
	6	The Louisiana Christian 1961-1962
	7	Church letters for members 1902-1914
	8	Resignations 1906-1912
	9	Newspaper articles
2	1	The Buzz and Church Chatter – 2 samples of newsletters published by the Business Women’s Circle of First Christian, miscellaneous correspondence
	2	Party Register 1945
	3	Small Pledge books 1914-1915, larger Pledge Book (beginning date not known, ends with 1929); misc. notes and correspondence concerning pledges; misc. correspondence regarding financial matters 1913-1915
	4	Receipts, misc. legal matters 1908-1915
	5	Financial reports 1912-1915
	6	Bank statements from Calcasieu National Bank and canceled checks 1913-1915
	7	First Christian Church Cook Book
	8	Brochure from Summer learning Series 1994
	9	Photocopy of A Scrapbook History of the First Christian Church of Lake Charles, LA compiled by Mrs. Earl Gray 1959
3	1	Photographs: 1. Jimmy Westbrook and Thomas Plunkett Mr. and Mrs. Claude L. Jones – 1^st minister First Christian Church – 1^st building Borealis Rex Georgie White and Archie Hickman in bathing suits 1905 church girls in bathing suits 1905 First Christian Church Bible School 1909 Young ladies 1909-1910 Wife and children of M. S. Dunning 1913 Loyal Daughters 1912 Young ladies 1913 MM Embroidery Club 1915 Sunday afternoon hike to Shell Beach before 1917 Picnic at Engleside 1917 Earl Gray Endeavors of the First Christian Church 1921 Rev. E. J. Bradley Men’s class 1921 Tom Thumb wedding with Jane Stiffel and Jack Gray 1935 New building ceremonies 1954-1955 Miller Dungan, Frank C. Mabee, Howard Marshall Children from the 1950s Children from the 1950s Children from the 1950s Callers’ luncheon New building ceremonies 1954-1955 Unidentified man Unidentified family California Christian Home
	2	Photographs: 1. Groundbreaking 1954 2. Junior Girls 1911 and 1913; Easter Sunday 1912 congregation; children’s group 1913 picnic at Walnut Grove; 1913 picnic at Walnut Grove – “Women on Game Picnic”Annual 3. Asataw class 1936 4. Congregation 1932 5. Men’s Brotherhood Banquet 1940-1941 6. Choir 1944 7. Groundbreaking – Albert N. Jones 1954 8. 1936 Y.P. Conference at Camp Windywood 9. Group of pilots in front of plane, undated 10. Rev. and Mrs. M. S. Dunning and children 11.-14. Photos for Brochure 15. Membership Directory 1989
	3	Miscellaneous unidentified photographs of church activities and people from the 1980s
4	1	Dedication programs and photograph of groundbreaking 1954-1955
	2	Photograph of Men’s Bible Class 1921-1922
	3	Photograph of congregation in Summer of 1923
	4	Photograph of congregation October 1931, Asataw Class 1931
	5	Photographs of Louisiana Young People’s Conference, Camp Windywood, Pollock, LA 1940 and First Christian Church youth, Camp Windywood YMCA in Pollock, LA 1942
	6	Photographs of 1945 and 1946 Young People’s Conference at Camp Windywood, Pollock, LA
	7	Photographs of 1947 and 1948 CYF Conference at Camp Windywood
	8	First Christian Church building 1896-1910

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