CHURCH PLANS ARE UNDER WAY

Christian Church Will Start Active Work Preparing For New Building Next Sunday

The Christian Church has now started in earnest on its project for building and next Sunday will mark the actual beginning in a “Homecoming Rally” for which invitations are now being sent out to all former members. Dinner will be served at the church.

It is planned to erect the new church for which plans have already been prepared on the present church site, and one of the handsomest and best appointed church buildings in the state is in contemplation.

In preparation for a year of greater activity, the Christian Church has secured the services of Miss Louise Brooks of Water Valley as Director of Religious Education and assistant pastor. Miss Brooks arrived today to take up her work with the church.

From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, November 17, 1924

CHRISTIAN CHURCH BUYS PROPERTY AS SITE FOR NEW CHURCH BUILDING

The Christian church has purchased the property on Washington Street facing the Jewish synagogue, and plans to erect its magnificent new church building, now in contemplation, on that site.

Tomorrow a special meeting of the church will be held to make further plans for the erection of the new building, and it is expected that the plans will be sufficiently advanced at tomorrow’s meeting to permit the beginning of construction on the building at an early date.

Plans and specifications for the building are being completed, and call for one of the handsomest and best appointed church edifices in the state.

The growth of the church during the past year, under the ministry of Rev. Frank K. Dunn, renders the present church building inadequate and makes the erection of the new building imperative for the church activities.

The site secured for the building is well situated, fronting on Washington Street, and is in the heart of one of the best sections of the city.

From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, November 22, 1924

CONTRACT IS LET FOR NEW CHURCH

W.S. Howell, Local Contractor Is Successful Bidder For Handsome New Church Building

Contract for construction of the new Christian Church building has been let to W.S. Howell, local contractor. The building will be erected on the property recently purchased by the church fronting on Washington Street, opposite the Jewish Temple.

From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, March 2, 1925

CHURCH PLANS ARE PERFECTED

Old Christian Church Building Is Disposed Of And Present Lot Will Be Sold

The Christian Church congregation has ratified the sale of the old church building and part of the church lot at the corner of Market and Dewey streets to B. L. Young, and negotiations are under way for the sale of the remainder of the church property at the present location.

All other necessary preliminaries to the commencement of construction on the new church building have been completed and ground for the new structure will likely be broken within the present week.

The new church will be located on the north side of Washington Street, near the intersection of that street with Williamson Street, and will be one of the handsomest houses of worship in Greenwood. It will cost approximately $40,000.00, and will be equipped with the most modern church and Sunday school facilities.

Anker F. Hanson of Memphis is architect and W. S. Howell of Greenwood is the contractor.

From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, April 6, 1925

SUNDAY IS HOMECOMING DAY AT LOCAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Ground will be broken Sunday, September 27th, for the construction of the new Christian Church building on Washington Street.

The ground breaking will be part of the celebration of homecoming day which will be observed Sunday with an appropriate program throughout the day to welcome all present and former members of the local Christian Church in attendance.

Dinner will be served on the grounds of the present church after the close of the morning services, and the ground breaking will follow immediately after.

Unusual interest will be attached to the morning service on Homecoming day in the return of Dr. G. A. Reynolds, first pastor of the Greenwood Christian Church, to the pulpit for the sermon at the morning hour. Dr. Reynolds was pastor of the local church for many years, and it was during his pastorate that the present church building was erected to house the then small congregation.

A special program with music and addresses on the history of the church, in connection with the sermon, are announced for the morning service. At the evening service, Rev. Frank K. Dunn, pastor, will deliver the sermon, using as his subject, ”Delightful Sinners”.

From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, September 25, 1925

CHRISTIAN CHURCH BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW BUILDING WITH CEREMONY

In an impressive ceremony yesterday, ground was broken for the erection of the new church building of the First Christian Church, and actual work of preparing the grounds for the building operations was begun this morning.

The ground breaking ceremony followed immediately after lunch yesterday afternoon, and was the crowning feature of the homecoming day of the congregation, marked by the return of many former members of the local congregation for the ceremony, and especially by the participation of Dr. G. A. Reynolds, first pastor of the local congregation and during whose pastorate the present church building was erected a number of years ago.

In the midst of the congregation gathered with bared heads, Rev. Frank K. Dunn, pastor, spoke of the occasion of the ground breaking ceremony and the beginning of a new era of service by the church made possible by the erection of their new building, a long cherished dream, the realization of which soon to be had, and in fitting manner presented the direction of ceremonies to Dr. Reynolds.

Quietly, solemnly, Dr. Reynolds read from Holy Writ verses appropriate to the erection of a new house of God and dedicated the new building to be to His worship.

Mr. Dunn, in preparation for the turning of the first spade of earth for the foundation of the building, spoke eloquently of the meaning of the building and his hopes in its construction. “There is one”, he said, “who, by her devotion to this little church, her untiring efforts in its behalf, and her long and unfaltering support of its mission, should have the honor of first breaking the ground for our greater building. In her church work, in unselfish support she has ever been an inspiration to me and to the other members of this church, and it gives me great pleasure to ask Mrs. A. McC. Kimbrough to turn the first ground for the erection of this new building in which are centered our hopes and our aspirations of a wider and greater service to the cause of God in Greenwood.”

Mrs. Kimbrough briefly thanked her pastor, and in simple words, yet eloquent with feeling, expressed her own appreciation of the work of others in the church. “Especially do I feel”, she said, ”that we should, on this occasion, remember the staunch support, the great Christian devotion of Mrs. R. H. Hicks, who, though, she is not with us today, we hope will gather with us in this building for many years to come. She nurtured this congregation in its infancy, and has ever proved an inspiration to carry on to greater things. Especially should we recall the devotion of Mrs. T. M. Whetstone for her labors for the church and its cause, and her work in the ministrations and its service.”

Turning, Mrs. Kimbrough then lifted the first dirt for the foundation, and the construction work was then begun.

The spade was then in turn presented to each of the deacons and elders, and the members of the congregation present, each to have a part in the actual building of their new church home, and Mr. Dunn closed the ceremonies with a brief prayer.

Services for the homecoming yesterday were conducted by Rev. A. G. Reynolds, who began his labors in Greenwood twenty-seven years ago. Dr. Reynolds preached at both the morning and evening services.

From the Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, September 28, 1925

Living Faith Cathedral, circa 2006.

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