The First Christian Church

                                       Girard, Macoupin County, Illinois
 

     A Union Church was build in the Spring of 1855 by the early settlers of the community.  during the 1850's the Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Univrsalist churches were organized.  The Union Church was used until each group grew strong enough to erect buildings of their own.  the Presbyterians became sole owners of the Union Church building in 1864.  A New Testament Church of Primitive Christianity was established in Girard.  This church, known simply as the Christian  church, was founded on July 15, 1860, 3rd Lordsday.
      Charter members numbered 13 and listed as follows:
        Mrs. Eliza McGee                Mrs. C. H. Thurman                Mr. Philip Thurman
        Mrs. Mary E. Buckley         Mr. Jacob C. Buckley             Mrs. Eliza Yowell
        Mr. Moses Yowell                Miss Nancy Yowell                  Miss Mary M. Yowell
        Mrs. Catherine Thompson   Miss Fannie Eastham               Mrs. Nancy Eastham
        Mrs. Lucretia Johnson

     Other early members were :
                Mr and Mrs Isaac Moore                Mr and Mrs John Ewing
                Mrs Alfred Mayfield                        Mrs. Jacob Deck
                Mrs Dr. Marshall                             Mrs. Belle Woods
                Miss Kate Eastham                          Mrs Nathan

     The newly formed Christian congregation met for awhile in a frame building, now brick located on the Northeast corner of Second and Center Streets.  After using the downtown building, the worshipers began holding their meetings in private homes with a preaching service once a month--the preacher was paid $12.00 per month.  during 1860 a Bible school was started:  at each Sunday meeting a Scripture stu
 

                 Isaac Moore                                Sarah Smith

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