1909 - The First Woodland Sanctuary
The Woodland Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was officially founded, in 1908, under the leadership of Professor B. C. DeWeese. The congregation met in a frame building and “used a nearby brick building for other church purposes.”
In June of that year, the lot at the corner of East High Street and Kentucky Avenue was purchased from Mrs. Hugh O'Neill. The Christian Standard reported that the 120' X 250' lot was "the best location and most beautiful lot in all Lexington for a church." A ten-room brick residence stood on the site and the entire location was purchased for $6,500. On July 29th, the church made plans to build a temporary church structure at a an estimated cost of $2,000.
A red brick house, often referred to as "The Annex," would serve as an auxiliary structure for classes, meetings, and the youth. The kitchen was used for monthly supper meetings of the Education Department and for ice cream parties and candy-pulling.
It took some persuading, but in the summer of 1909, Charles E. Powell, a charter member of the congregation, accepted the call to become Woodland’s first pastor.
Architect and Woodland member Frank Corbin oversaw the design and construction of a wooden frame building at an under-budget cost of $1,500. The sanctuary could hold 300 congregants with choir space, baptistry, and the building had three small rooms in the rear.
On November 20, 1909, the church was dedicated with an address by Transylvania President Dr. R. H. Crossfield.
The new congregation established Bylaws and Rules of Order governing official actions and procedures of a Board of Deacons. Deacons were charged to promote the welfare of the church by energetically prosecuting their duties. The congregation held periodic votes of confidence as an incentive to deacons to provide the most effective service.
The Bylaws provided that the members of the Board of Deacons would be “nine men” possessing “scriptural qualifications” to promote “the administration and financial policy” of the church. The members were elected annually, on the third Sunday of December, and the deacons, in turn, elected a president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer from among their number. Six separate committees were also established to oversee Financials, Current Expenses, Building Funds, Repairs and Insurance, Heat, Light, and Ventilation, and Music.
By the fall of 1910 Rev. Powell submitted his resignation citing health concerns. Following the brief interim ministry of Professor L. L. Pinkerton, in December, Rev. Richard W. Wallace accepted a call to become Woodland’s pastor at an annual salary of $1,500.
In June of that year, the lot at the corner of East High Street and Kentucky Avenue was purchased from Mrs. Hugh O'Neill. The Christian Standard reported that the 120' X 250' lot was "the best location and most beautiful lot in all Lexington for a church." A ten-room brick residence stood on the site and the entire location was purchased for $6,500. On July 29th, the church made plans to build a temporary church structure at a an estimated cost of $2,000.
A red brick house, often referred to as "The Annex," would serve as an auxiliary structure for classes, meetings, and the youth. The kitchen was used for monthly supper meetings of the Education Department and for ice cream parties and candy-pulling.
It took some persuading, but in the summer of 1909, Charles E. Powell, a charter member of the congregation, accepted the call to become Woodland’s first pastor.
Architect and Woodland member Frank Corbin oversaw the design and construction of a wooden frame building at an under-budget cost of $1,500. The sanctuary could hold 300 congregants with choir space, baptistry, and the building had three small rooms in the rear.
On November 20, 1909, the church was dedicated with an address by Transylvania President Dr. R. H. Crossfield.
The new congregation established Bylaws and Rules of Order governing official actions and procedures of a Board of Deacons. Deacons were charged to promote the welfare of the church by energetically prosecuting their duties. The congregation held periodic votes of confidence as an incentive to deacons to provide the most effective service.
The Bylaws provided that the members of the Board of Deacons would be “nine men” possessing “scriptural qualifications” to promote “the administration and financial policy” of the church. The members were elected annually, on the third Sunday of December, and the deacons, in turn, elected a president, vice president, and secretary/treasurer from among their number. Six separate committees were also established to oversee Financials, Current Expenses, Building Funds, Repairs and Insurance, Heat, Light, and Ventilation, and Music.
By the fall of 1910 Rev. Powell submitted his resignation citing health concerns. Following the brief interim ministry of Professor L. L. Pinkerton, in December, Rev. Richard W. Wallace accepted a call to become Woodland’s pastor at an annual salary of $1,500.
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