We’re not the only Christians, but Christians only.

Where the Bible speaks we speak; where the Bible is silent we are silent.

No creed but Christ; no book but the Bible; no name but the Divine.

Central Christian Church today

The Central Christian Church came about as the result of the restoration movement which started in this area in 1829.  Jonesborough was first mentioned on September 8, 1841 in a report from a publication called the Millennial Harbinger, edited by John Wright.

 According to a report dated may 28, 1844, Washington County had three Christian churches:  Boones Creek (membership - 250); Keeblers (probably Keebler’s Cross Roads ; membership - 39), and Limestone (probably Mt. Bethel; membership – 15).  Jonesborough was not yet an organized church, but according to records the group met in Jonesborough in 1844.  No records were available for several years after that.  

 Central Christian Church is a direct descendant of the First Christian Church which was established in 1866, largely through the efforts of Bro. W.G. Barker, minister at the Buffalo (Hopwood) Christian Church.  In 1867, he founded the academy that later evolved into Milligan College.

  In 1889, during a revival led by Bro. Arron I. Myrh, the church at Jonesborough was organized.  Records of the early years have been lost, but it is known that the earliest efforts did not produce a sustaining congregation and there were periods without regular services.

 During a convention held August 20, 1891, arrangements were made for a building on Cherokee Street, which had been built around 1889 by Fuller Gresham.  It had served previously as Martin Academy, a boy’s school, which was organized without creed and utilized the Bible to educate young men for the ministry.  It remains within sight of the present facility, and now houses the Speakeasy restaurant (formerly Parsons Table).

 Over the intervening years the church had periods of being inactive until April 1909 when evangelist J. A. Campbell held a two week revival, during which six individuals were baptized into Christ and twelve others transferred their membership by letter.  The church has remained active in Jonesborough since that time.

 For a period of years during the 1940’s and early 1950’s there were two Christian Churches in Jonesborough: Central Christian Church and First Christian Church.  Central purchased their present facility at the corner of Fox and Main Streets in June 1944.  It was the former Northern Presbyterian Church building, dating back to 1880 and dedicated on January 22, 1882.  The building, lot and furniture was a gift to the Presbyterians from a former pastor: Rev. Dr. James G. Mason of the Jonesborough area.

 At that time, First Christian Church continued to meet in the building across the railroad tracks (Speakeasy restaurant).  In 1955, a joint meeting was held and it was agreed to unite the two congregations into one.  Central Christian Church accepted the merger on March 22, 1955.  The old First Christian Church building was sold, and all met as Central Christian Church in the present facility.

 In 1959, a crack in the wall threatened the collapse of the auditorium.  Rebuilding and remodeling followed, including the removal of the old stained glass windows.  In August 1968, the church family decided to build an addition which would house eight classrooms, a fellowship hall, kitchen, nursery and facilities for small children. In the 1980’s new stained glass windows were installed in the sanctuary and entryways.

 In 1977, the Westside Christian Church of Christ was formed by members from Central Christian Church, and continues to meet on Persimmon Ridge Road in Jonesborough.

 Some of the Ministers who have served Central Christian Church since the 1950’s include:  Dr. Robert Fife, Henry Rockfeller, Fred Gardner, Roy Scarem, Dr. Henry Webb, Robert Laver, Kurt Henson, Tom Swift and Steve Hill.

 Central continues to be a beacon of light in the community of Jonesborough, where it’s mission is : “To reach out and build up a stronger community by developing a living faith in Jesus Christ.”

The information in this history of Central Christian Church was compiled from various sources and individuals including: a book by Mrs. Mary Hardin McCown: Glimpses of Yesterday’s Lights for Tomorrow and notes of Mrs I. Dulaney, Ellen Hattaway, Dennis L. Gray Sr. and Steve Hill.