The Alliance Christian Church has passed through all the experiences which are the heritage of pioneers of the past and the people of the present.
In the early "nineties" a Christian Church was organized in a schoolhouse and later held services in a sod house erected for that purpose about eleven miles southwest of Alliance. This church did some efficient work for several years until removals prompted its disbanding. This was the first Christian Church in Box Butte county and furnished some of the members for the later organization in the city of Alliance.
Repeated efforts were made to establish a church in Alliance by Evangelists and others but none succeeded in effecting a permanent organization until 1911. Evangelists Wilhite and Whiston conducted meetings in which large numbers were gathered in and other ministers did much to encourage the work. These included E. Von Forrel, C. C. Dobbs, H. H. Utterback, Willard McCarthy and W. A. Baldwin.
In 1911 a Union Tabernacle Meeting was conducted in Alliance by evangelists Lowry and Moody and at that time many expressed their preference for the Christian Church. These were held together by Mrs. H. C. Redenbaugh, Mrs. Menafee and Mrs. E. I. Gregg who invited Mr. McCarthy to come over from Chadron to assist them in perfecting the organization which has continued to this time. Bro. McCarthy also helped select a building lot, and a lot already owned by the group at 4th and Laramie was sold to purchase our present site at 9th and Box Butte.
In 1912 Frank Woten was called to be the first resident minister and it was during his ministry that the church, after meeting in halls, borrowed churches, the Court House and the theatre, built their own place of worship, first a basement then finally completed the church building. This was in 1913 and the lot at 4th and Laramie was sold for $1500 and the one at 9th and Box Butte where the church now stands was bought for $500. Rev. McCarthy of Chadron aided in getting the new place started. Mrs. Redenbaugh and Mrs. Cole canvassed the businessmen to raise $800. The building committee was composed of E. I. Gregg, Rev. Woten and Mrs. Redenbaugh and three or four others unknown at present. Contractors were Mr. Gentry and Mr. Hoppes. Rev. Harvey Harmon of the First Christian Church of Lincoln dedicated the new building. Frank Wolverton was the first Sunday School Superintendent of the new church organization. Mrs. A. J. Cole was the first Aid President.
In 1914 Mr. Woten was succeeded by Homer J. Young who also led in the growth of the Church.
In 1917 Stephen J. Epler was called to be pastor of the church and served for almost seven years.
During his pastorate he purchased the portion of the church lot not occupied by the Church and built a home for his family. This residence was later purchased from the Eplers by the church to be used as a parsonage. It was also during Bro. Epler's ministry that a serious fire broke out in the church necessitating an extensive project of repair and alteration.
Mr. Epler was followed as pastor by H. A. Wingard from January to June 1924.
In September 1924 Mr. O. D. Lee became our minister and served the church until late summer of 1930.
Then the church called Dana S. MacDonald to be pastor and he in turn served until the fall of 1935. It was during the pastorate of Brother MacDonald that the Ninety and Nine Men's Class was organized and leaders of the church began to look forward to some sort of a building program which would furnish more room for the Bible School and other activities of the congregation which by this time numbered well over seven hundred.
In the early "nineties" a Christian Church was organized in a schoolhouse and later held services in a sod house erected for that purpose about eleven miles southwest of Alliance. This church did some efficient work for several years until removals prompted its disbanding. This was the first Christian Church in Box Butte county and furnished some of the members for the later organization in the city of Alliance.
Repeated efforts were made to establish a church in Alliance by Evangelists and others but none succeeded in effecting a permanent organization until 1911. Evangelists Wilhite and Whiston conducted meetings in which large numbers were gathered in and other ministers did much to encourage the work. These included E. Von Forrel, C. C. Dobbs, H. H. Utterback, Willard McCarthy and W. A. Baldwin.
In 1911 a Union Tabernacle Meeting was conducted in Alliance by evangelists Lowry and Moody and at that time many expressed their preference for the Christian Church. These were held together by Mrs. H. C. Redenbaugh, Mrs. Menafee and Mrs. E. I. Gregg who invited Mr. McCarthy to come over from Chadron to assist them in perfecting the organization which has continued to this time. Bro. McCarthy also helped select a building lot, and a lot already owned by the group at 4th and Laramie was sold to purchase our present site at 9th and Box Butte.
In 1912 Frank Woten was called to be the first resident minister and it was during his ministry that the church, after meeting in halls, borrowed churches, the Court House and the theatre, built their own place of worship, first a basement then finally completed the church building. This was in 1913 and the lot at 4th and Laramie was sold for $1500 and the one at 9th and Box Butte where the church now stands was bought for $500. Rev. McCarthy of Chadron aided in getting the new place started. Mrs. Redenbaugh and Mrs. Cole canvassed the businessmen to raise $800. The building committee was composed of E. I. Gregg, Rev. Woten and Mrs. Redenbaugh and three or four others unknown at present. Contractors were Mr. Gentry and Mr. Hoppes. Rev. Harvey Harmon of the First Christian Church of Lincoln dedicated the new building. Frank Wolverton was the first Sunday School Superintendent of the new church organization. Mrs. A. J. Cole was the first Aid President.
In 1914 Mr. Woten was succeeded by Homer J. Young who also led in the growth of the Church.
In 1917 Stephen J. Epler was called to be pastor of the church and served for almost seven years.
During his pastorate he purchased the portion of the church lot not occupied by the Church and built a home for his family. This residence was later purchased from the Eplers by the church to be used as a parsonage. It was also during Bro. Epler's ministry that a serious fire broke out in the church necessitating an extensive project of repair and alteration.
Mr. Epler was followed as pastor by H. A. Wingard from January to June 1924.
In September 1924 Mr. O. D. Lee became our minister and served the church until late summer of 1930.
Then the church called Dana S. MacDonald to be pastor and he in turn served until the fall of 1935. It was during the pastorate of Brother MacDonald that the Ninety and Nine Men's Class was organized and leaders of the church began to look forward to some sort of a building program which would furnish more room for the Bible School and other activities of the congregation which by this time numbered well over seven hundred.
First Christian Church - History