J. W. Barnhart, a devoted Christian man, was a leader in establishing the
Christian Church in Streator, which first met in a little Chapel shared by
people of all denominations. The Articles of Organization were drawn on July 17,
1870. Mr. Barnhart was the first Elder, Mr. William L. Ley, the first Deacon;
and Mr. J. C. Tully was an Evangelist who assisted in the establishing of the
Church and remained with them ministering for a few months. This small
congregation met in a hall on Main Street with Brother Charles Rowe serving as
the first regular pastor.
In 1871 Dr. W. L. Streator, a leading member of the Euclid Avenue Christian
Church of Cleveland, Ohio (and for whom the City of Streator was named)
encouraged the local congregation to erect their own building. He gave them a
plot of land on the north side of the City Park and also assisted financially.
This little chapel was the meeting place from March 27, 1873 until 1905 at which
time they outgrew this small one-story, wood-frame building, the dimensions of
which were about fifty by sixty feet.
With the funds for a new building mounting and the need growing ever more
pressing several men were appointed to investigate plans and costs of a suitable
building for the growing congregation. By the end of May 1905 a lot with a house
on one end at the corner Park and Bridge Streets, was purchased. The house was
used for many years as a residence for church janitors, and later remodeled and
used as a parsonage. In August 1905 ground was broken for the church.
In January 1911, because of its central location within the city, the name
was changed to Central Church of Christ. The church continued to grow and
prosper in the early 1900's. From 1910-1915 the Sunday School average increased
from 60 to 254. Also, from one adult class - the Veteran's Bible Class - three
more adult classes were started which were The Loyal Berean, the Loyal Sons, and
the Loyal Daughters. The Bible School had a primary department, a cradle roll
department, and home department. The church had a library and missionary
program. By 1914 the church was no longer a mission church but was
self-supporting.
Tragedy struck in the form of a fire on Sunday morning November 28, 1915 when
the church was completely destroyed. The fire was discovered about 8:00 A.M. and
was presumed to have originated from the furnace.
Rebuilding the church began at once but meanwhile union services were held
morning and evening on Sundays with the Baptist Brethren. Our Sunday School was
held in the afternoons and communion followed immediately. Our congregation paid
half the expenses for fuel and other utilities.
Music has always been an important part of this church's program and it is
interesting to read of a Junior Choir in the 1920's with a total of sixty
voices. They sang every Sunday night accompanied by a pianist and a violinist.
In December 1924 the Ladies Aid Society had as a project the installation of
a gas heater for warming water in the baptistery. It is assumed that until this
time the water must have been unheated. Brr-r!
During the depression years the Mite Bottle System was inaugurated taking the
place of church suppers and paid entertainments which involved the solicitation
of donations and the selling of tickets. This system consisted of each family
placing a milk bottle on their table at each meal at which time a thanks
offering would be made. At the end of each quarter the families would turn their
offering in to be applied to the needs of the church. This was started in the
year 1936 and by 1938 the church was debt free and several improvements had been
made including new carpet for the sanctuary new choir robes, and the purchase of
150 new hymnals.
Survival during those difficult years was not easy. Paying the coal bill
became a real problem. So very real, in fact, that to avoid the necessity of
cash to provide coal, the men of the church volunteered their time and service
to go into a strip mine and dig the coal and deliver it to the church's coal
bin. In 1933 the minutes show there was a "wood committee", which
secured wood for the church and this in turn was cut up by several members of
the congregation for fuel. At a 1933 Board meeting it was recommended that any
organization holding a meeting in the church building pay 25 cents toward the
light bill.
In the Fall of 1944, we had our first annual Missionary Rally, At his first
Rally nine states were represented, 277 were registered, and the total
attendance was over 800. Our Missionary Rallies continued to grow through the
years with many missionaries and recruits telling of their work and hopes for
the future. Groups from churches hundreds of miles from Streator attended the
Rally, being guests of church families. The National Missionary Rally of today
had its beginning as a direct result and outgrowth of our own Rallies many years
ago.
A special Board meeting was held in September 1953 to adopt the proposal that
we broadcast our morning service over the local radio station on a one year
trial basis. It is to be noted that this was so well received that our services
are still broadcast each Lord's Day over station WIZZ.
It was July 1954 when it was decided to have morning worship at 9:00 A.M.
during the summer months. However, from then to recent years, that has been the
time for our morning service followed by the Bible School hour.
In September 1956, for the first time, a Youth Minister was hired. She was
Miss Mary Spear, a graduate of Milligan College, Tennessee, who also served as
our church secretary. Miss Spear, as Youth Minister, created new enthusiasm in
our youth activities.
Christmas Eve 1956 was the first annual presentation of the Christmas
Pantomime. Christmas 1998 saw the presentation of this same old ageless story,
bringing a vivid recollection of the Biblical account of Joseph and Mary's
journey to Bethlehem and the birth of the Savior.
Pressed with a need for expansion due to the growth of the church the Church
Board had been negotiating to purchase lots that adjoined the church property.
This had always turned out negatively. So at the October 12, 1959 Board
meeting the recommendation of the Survey Committee to construct a new church
building was approved. In May 1960 the congregation voted 85% in favor, to
relocate and build a new church building. It was voted to include parsonage
plans, and to build a parsonage at the same time. At a special meeting March 9,
1961 the church board voted to purchase land located at the East edge of
Streator on Highway 18, where the church is now located.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were set for March 20, 1963, after which the
congregation committed themselves to accomplishing this new goal. Our men and
women did every non- professional job they could to keep expenses at a minimum
and in just one year our building was completed and Open House was held April
16, 1964 with Dedication Sunday on May 31, 1964.
In 1973 the Central Church of Christ placed a second parsonage directly
behind the church building and west of the existing parsonage. It was purchased
as a shell which was delivered in May and completed by men of the church so that
it was ready for occupancy by mid- August.
In 1990 the opportunity arose to purchase the adjoining property to the west
of our building which included five acres, a house, and a garage and a large
shed for the price of $75,000. The need for hiring a third minister to be
primarily involved with Christian Education, Singles Ministry, Senior Adult
Ministry, and adult education was also presented to the congregation at the same
time as the proposal to purchase the additional property. On March 18, 1990 both
proposals were approved and a big step was taken in faith.
In studying the history of this church one cannot help but note that the same
courage and vision which thrived in the hearts of those believers who first
began this church 130 years ago still characterizes the people of Central Church
of Christ. There have been many triumphs and many heartaches but there has
always been, and always will be a determined commitment to remain firm in the
high calling of Jesus Christ our Lord.
