Our History
In 1838 area settlers who had previously held worship meeting in their homes, began a series of protracted meetings in the Indian Run log schoolhouse. They continued to meet there, mostly conducting their own service but taking advantage of the services of Elders and preachers who traveled through, until 1845 when a log church was erected on the intersection of Indian Run and Westfall Roads.
Alexander Campbell, noted evangelist in the early days on the Restoration Movement, held meetings at the church about 1850. His teaching and preaching convinced the congregation to change their name from “Baptist” to the “Church of Christ”.
Baptisms were done by immersion in Indian Run Creek, summer, and winter. As people came out of the creek in cold weather, they were rushed to the ‘warming kitchen’’ of the late James and Lois Faulk to dry and change clothes.
On June 9, 1860, Peter and Margaret VanVoorhis donated the land for the present church site. The frame building erected the served until 1894 when the present brick structure was built. The congregation was in debt $.51 at the time. The next year, the treasury balanced $.32 to the good.
In the years that followed improvements, changes and projects ranged from the addition of an indoor baptistery, a basement dug under the existing building, erecting a parsonage, flood relief for the folk of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, sending missionaries to Africa, adding a balcony and even a hitching rail!
A new century dawned, and many pastors and families have come and gone. Paved parking facilities, a Sunday School wing, a church van, a church secretary, and computer technology have all found their way into the life of Indian Run Christian Church at some point. The constants have been the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the desire to accomplish God’s will in this community. Those can still be found in the same form at the Indian Run Christian Church of today as in those far off days when the work was founded. If we endure another century, may that still be just as true.
Alexander Campbell, noted evangelist in the early days on the Restoration Movement, held meetings at the church about 1850. His teaching and preaching convinced the congregation to change their name from “Baptist” to the “Church of Christ”.
Baptisms were done by immersion in Indian Run Creek, summer, and winter. As people came out of the creek in cold weather, they were rushed to the ‘warming kitchen’’ of the late James and Lois Faulk to dry and change clothes.
On June 9, 1860, Peter and Margaret VanVoorhis donated the land for the present church site. The frame building erected the served until 1894 when the present brick structure was built. The congregation was in debt $.51 at the time. The next year, the treasury balanced $.32 to the good.
In the years that followed improvements, changes and projects ranged from the addition of an indoor baptistery, a basement dug under the existing building, erecting a parsonage, flood relief for the folk of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, sending missionaries to Africa, adding a balcony and even a hitching rail!
A new century dawned, and many pastors and families have come and gone. Paved parking facilities, a Sunday School wing, a church van, a church secretary, and computer technology have all found their way into the life of Indian Run Christian Church at some point. The constants have been the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the desire to accomplish God’s will in this community. Those can still be found in the same form at the Indian Run Christian Church of today as in those far off days when the work was founded. If we endure another century, may that still be just as true.
