Morgan Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): January 2009

January 25, 2009

Dedication of the Shotwell-Aulick Fellowship Hall

What a joyous celebration! We had 41 people in worship and shared a meal together in our new fellowship hall. We had three babies, some teenagers, plus a feisty older crew. We thank all the family members and old time friends who came to make it such a meaningful event.

January 16, 2009

January 4, 2009

The new fellowship hall is complete! The adult Sunday School class will meet in it next week. Everyone is invited to our Casual Dress Sunday and soup and sandwich meal on January the 18th. We will dedicate and worship in the fellowship hall. So come join us, remember, worship will also be in the fellowship hall this Sunday.

This Sunday the emphasis was on epiphany, light and lighthouses. Pastor Dave asked, "How can Morgan Christian Church be a lighthouse to the world?" Mamie Faulkner loaned us some wonderful pictures of lighthouses. Wayne Keith was our guest musician.

Sandi Baxter brought guest animals for Sunday School. Here is Derek McCormick holding a rooster. She also had rabbits. Who knows what kind of creatures she'll have next week.

Faye and Jimmy Godman

A Brief History

In February 1862, Richard Stowers deeded a portion of his land to Jeremiah Wells and William Kirkwood to establish a meeting house for the Christian Church at Morgan. On that site, a frame building was constructed facing the South Licking River. The Rev. Kirkwood, a blacksmith, was the pastor of the congregation.

In December 1882, the building was destroyed when sulfur candles ignited a tree during a Christmas program. Within a year, a brick building had replaced the frame structure. The brick structure was razed in 1915 when a defective wall created a hazard. The present structure, built in 1915 of bricks from the old building and new pressed bricks, faces northeast toward Kentucky Highway 1054. The sanctuary seats 125 people, with room for approximately 20 choir members. Twelve stained-glass windows centered with symbols of faith, were given by families in honor of past members.

More than 35 pastors have served Morgan Christian Church, which is associated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) during its long history. A majority of these pastors were also students at Lexington Theological Seminary (formerly called The College of the Bible).

-From A Study of the Morgan Christian Church, Pendleton County, Kentucky, a master's thesis by Roland West Jones for the College of the Bible, 1961 (now Lexington Theological Seminary).

In July of 2008 a new parsonage was erected in-between the sanctuary and the river. A new fellowship hall was constructed in December of 2008. On January 25, 2009 the Shotwell-Aulick Fellowship hall was dedicated.

In the spring of 2009 there are plans to pave the parking lot in front of the old Morgan High School. We also plan on erecting a monument in commemoration to those who have been laid in the Morgan Christian Church Cemetery.