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Our History
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Religion has always been vital in the lives of people throughout the world. All the races of the world had some form of worship and that worshipping made for unity among a people. As time went on, and conditions became so intolerable in Europe, people began to desire more freedom in religious matters, and so it was that the Pilgrims and the Puritans came to America in search of that freedom. On of the first things they did was to establish churches, each community having its own church according to the beliefs of its people.
Later, as people moved West, Barton Stone came to this area and started a church which became the "Christian Church."
In 1879, Eureka Springs came into being. The Christian Church Congregation was formed and started holding meetings with Mr. Shadrack Turner as a Trustee. In 1882, the City Improvement Company submitted to Mr. Turner a plot of ground on Prospect Avenue across from the Red Brick School House. A small frame building was constructed, painted white, and became "First Christian Church," also called "The Little White Church." The church grew and was remodeled in 1912.
As sometimes happens, there were two factions in the church. One believed in continuing worship under the United Christian Missionary Society, which was the forerunner of the "Disciples of Christ," and one was against having a national headquarters dictating policy.
About 1927-29, the Alexander Campbell group (Disciples) divided from the Barton Stone group (Christian) and the "Mountain Street Christian Church (Disciples)" was formed in the old Calvary Baptist Church building which had been constructed in 1889 on the corner of Mountain and White streets in the historical district of Eureka Springs.
In 1932, one of the worst fires ever known in Eureka Springs completely destroyed the Little White Church. All that was saved was the old organ, the pulpit, three chairs, and the old Bible, all of which are on display in our church today. Since the Mountain Street Church had no minister and a large mortgage, and the First Christian Church had a minister plus insurance money, in May 1932 a joint meeting of the two churches was held. They were then united under the name "Church of Christ." The church now numbered ninety-two members. Eighty of them attended the first meeting held to elect officers.
On November 6, 1938, a special meeting of the entire church was called and the name changed back to "First Christian Church." Many guest ministers filled the pulpit, often preaching for whatever was given in the collection that Sunday. In 1945, the lots where the Little White Church stood were sold for $1000. This money, along with the insurance money from the fire, enabled the board to pay off all indebtedness by October 1946.
In September of 1968 the congregation voted to remain an independent congregation without association with the Disciples of Christ restructuring movement, and the break was finalized in July of 1969.
In December 1984, the house across the street north of the church (called the "Green House"), was purchased for $59,000 and used for Sunday School, Bible Study, and Fellowship. 1985 brought a big change to the exterior of the church when the bell tower was reconstructed and a bell installed. What a joyous sound echoed across the hills! In 1993, the Green House mortgage was paid in full.
In August of 1998, a beautiful six-acre parcel of land was purchased at 763 Passion Play Road for a new facility to be constructed. The Mountain Street Church and Green House properties were sold and the mortgage paid off in July 1999. In August 2000 volunteers with the Church Growth Ministries branch of World Mission Builders joined with our congregation to erect the building. and services began here on Mother's Day, May 13, 2001. It's opening was hearalded by the peal of the bell which was relocated to the new facility and is still sounded every Sunday.
The current pastor, Dr. Mark Golaway, began serving in November of 2014 as our Associate Minister. We called him as our Pastor in October of 2015.
Later, as people moved West, Barton Stone came to this area and started a church which became the "Christian Church."
In 1879, Eureka Springs came into being. The Christian Church Congregation was formed and started holding meetings with Mr. Shadrack Turner as a Trustee. In 1882, the City Improvement Company submitted to Mr. Turner a plot of ground on Prospect Avenue across from the Red Brick School House. A small frame building was constructed, painted white, and became "First Christian Church," also called "The Little White Church." The church grew and was remodeled in 1912.
As sometimes happens, there were two factions in the church. One believed in continuing worship under the United Christian Missionary Society, which was the forerunner of the "Disciples of Christ," and one was against having a national headquarters dictating policy.
About 1927-29, the Alexander Campbell group (Disciples) divided from the Barton Stone group (Christian) and the "Mountain Street Christian Church (Disciples)" was formed in the old Calvary Baptist Church building which had been constructed in 1889 on the corner of Mountain and White streets in the historical district of Eureka Springs.
In 1932, one of the worst fires ever known in Eureka Springs completely destroyed the Little White Church. All that was saved was the old organ, the pulpit, three chairs, and the old Bible, all of which are on display in our church today. Since the Mountain Street Church had no minister and a large mortgage, and the First Christian Church had a minister plus insurance money, in May 1932 a joint meeting of the two churches was held. They were then united under the name "Church of Christ." The church now numbered ninety-two members. Eighty of them attended the first meeting held to elect officers.
On November 6, 1938, a special meeting of the entire church was called and the name changed back to "First Christian Church." Many guest ministers filled the pulpit, often preaching for whatever was given in the collection that Sunday. In 1945, the lots where the Little White Church stood were sold for $1000. This money, along with the insurance money from the fire, enabled the board to pay off all indebtedness by October 1946.
In September of 1968 the congregation voted to remain an independent congregation without association with the Disciples of Christ restructuring movement, and the break was finalized in July of 1969.
In December 1984, the house across the street north of the church (called the "Green House"), was purchased for $59,000 and used for Sunday School, Bible Study, and Fellowship. 1985 brought a big change to the exterior of the church when the bell tower was reconstructed and a bell installed. What a joyous sound echoed across the hills! In 1993, the Green House mortgage was paid in full.
In August of 1998, a beautiful six-acre parcel of land was purchased at 763 Passion Play Road for a new facility to be constructed. The Mountain Street Church and Green House properties were sold and the mortgage paid off in July 1999. In August 2000 volunteers with the Church Growth Ministries branch of World Mission Builders joined with our congregation to erect the building. and services began here on Mother's Day, May 13, 2001. It's opening was hearalded by the peal of the bell which was relocated to the new facility and is still sounded every Sunday.
The current pastor, Dr. Mark Golaway, began serving in November of 2014 as our Associate Minister. We called him as our Pastor in October of 2015.