History of St Francisville Christian Church

St. Francisville's Christian Church was organized in October 1894 under the leadership of Elder W. R. Couch of Wabash County with W.H Highfield as clerk. According to the records, a business meeting of the members of the Christian Church was called June 24, 1895, for the purpose of making arrangements to build a Christian Church in the village of St. Francisville. It is interesting to note that up to this time no provision had been made for a building; the 25 members met in homes and in an upstairs room of a building located on the corner of Sixth and Main streets.

At this meeting L.W. Jackman was unanimously chosen as chairman of the board with W.H. Highfield clerk and W.H. Moore, Treas. The newly elected chairman appointed the following committees: Building committee L.W. Jackman, Charles Burnett, William Degan; Finance committee: Dr. F.J. Grayson, W.H. Moore and W.H. Highfield.

On September 19, 1895, a tentative plan was approved by the Board for building a church 35 feet wide, 50 foot long, with an oval ceiling, and side walls to be 14 foot high, with an amending clause that if the cost of the oval ceiling was too great, a square ceiling would be substituted. It has been confirmed that the square ceiling was used. At a later meeting September 23, 1895, the proposed foundation was decided upon, which was to be one and a half bricks wide and four bricks high. On April 20, 1896, the building committee reported the roof was partially paid for with $135 on hand. Then on June 20, 1896, James M. Collison, Dr. W.A. Lyons, and S.W. McIntosh were elected trustees. This record was filed June 24, 1896, in Book B page 186, at the Lawrence County courthouse. In a congressional meeting a vote was taken for the purpose of considering the question of a loan of $250 from the missionary society. The Proposition carried and the trustees were authorized to borrow the sum of $250.

This first church building was a white frame building with a steeple and a small bell. It was used until the congregation outgrew it.

December 24, 1899, records a meeting for the purpose of filling the vacancy left by the death of Dr. W A. Lyons, one of the first trustees and loyal workers. At this meeting a motion was made and carried for the purpose of electing three Deaconesses to serve the table. Sisters Frances Sexton, Betty Highfield and Martha Young were nominated and elected.

January 21, 1902, Brother P.E. Caudle was hired by the unanimous vote of members present at $12.50 per trip for the balance of the year, to begin the third Saturday night of February 1902. The church records from 1902 to 1910 are very brief. Brother James Moyer was the Minister from 1904 – 1911. In the year 1911, Brother Battenfield was given a call to be the pastor. The official board met on May 11, 1911, in the home of B. P. Wiley, the clerk, and decided to purchase a communion set consisting of three round trays of 36 glasses each and two silver bread plates.

Through the years the church has endeavored to serve others less fortunate. On December 21, 1912, the board appointed Mable Lyons, Lillian Armstrong, and Edith King as a committee of three to solicit donations for the Orphans Home in St. Louis, Missouri and at the same time the treasury was instructed to send $10 to the Ministerial Relief Board.

New trustees were elected in 1913. This is the first record of a trustee election since a vacancy was created by the death of Dr. W A. Lyons. Now another vacancy was at hand with the death the previous year of James M Collison. Three new trustees were selected at the meeting of the Board on January 22, 1913. They were Brothers G.R. Williams, Joshua Sexton, and J.B. Brown.

In May of 1913 the members of the Board met at the home of Dr. H.W. Leeds and there discussed the plans for a new church structure. C.L. Lewis, J.P. King and Joshua Sexton were chosen as members of the building committee and Dr. H. A. W. Leeds was chosen as clerk to fill the vacancy caused by Brother B.P. Wiley moving to Lawrenceville. W.H. Highfield was chosen as Treasurer of the building fund. The new church was completed on February 1, 1914.

The new Gothic-style building was described as 'one of the most beautiful in southeastern Illinois.' Fifteen wide steps led up to double doors with leaded glass windows. Two huge, round white pillars stood on either side of the entry way and very bright multi-colored stained-glass windows reflected the light.

Many townspeople could remember the happy occasions when the large frame church on south Sixth Street hosted large Christmas gatherings for the community on Christmas Eve and shared in the privilege of the large Christmas tree with Santa there to distribute gifts. It was a unique era in the history of St. Francisville, for gifts were placed on the tree by families of various congregations and all were welcome to participate. The congregation was also one of the first to sponsor the sunrise service on Easter morning and the annual Easter egg hunt which started almost 40 years ago for the area children.

Elders in the church in 1974 were Herschel Kays, Niles Potts, Ray O'Dell, Morl Fox, Wallace Sibert and Gerald Lane. Deacons were Bob Gillespie, Bill Pavitt, David Porter, Harold Highsmith, Ray Spidel, Charles Hovermale, Ezra Short, Frank Schrader and Bill Wolfe. The trustees awere Morl Fox, Gerald Lane and Harold Highsmith.

On Monday, November 26, 1973, friends and members of the St. Francisville Christian Church were in shock. Their church, one of the most beautiful in the area, had burned to the ground. The cause of the fire was never determined. In front of the former church, the bulletin board that read “God is alive, are you?” still stood.

Worship services were held in the St. Francisville school gym during the rebuilding, and in the summer months, in the school's cafeteria. The new church dedicated on Sunday, December 15, 1974, was a monument to the 175 members’ strength, beliefs, and perseverance. Rev. Ed Dowden, minister at the church many years before was the principal speaker at the dedication. The program included a high school and choir group as well as a moment of silence for those members of the church who had passed away.

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The new church building L-shaped in design, encompasses approximately 4100 sq ft. and is divided into two areas. The sanctuary is one area while the other is comprised of six classrooms, nursery, an office, and a kitchen. Exposed beams highlight the sanctuary. The beams, pews and wood furnishings are walnut color. The pulpit is on the South side of the sanctuary. Behind the pulpit is the choir loft and behind the loft is a Baptistry. To the left of the pulpit is a piano. The sanctuary is carpeted throughout, with pew cushions and painted walls. The new building is constructed of concrete block with a red brick exterior. The classrooms are furnished with chairs and tables; the kitchen has a range, sink and refrigerator.

Only four items were salvageable from the fire: two candelabra which were refinished by Niles Potts and are now in the new church; the old church bell, and a long ladder that was used to change light bulbs and other work to the church's high ceilings in the old church. C.C. Tessie recovered the bell. After being stored for several years, the bell was remounted in front of the new Church building.

The new church is located on Main Street, a few blocks away from the former site at St. Joseph and Sixth Street. After the fire and many weeks of searching, the Ray O’Dell family donated the lots next to the late Bessie Griggs’ home as the new site for the House of Worship. In addition, the O’Dell family donated two more lots across the street on the west for parking. The land had been in the Griggs’ and O’ Dell families for many years. Mrs. O'Dell's grandfather operated a grain mill on the present site of the church and the O'Dell's operated a general store until two years ago when it burned on the parking lot side.