Our history

EST. 1914

The church community has a rich history, encompassing various denominations before the establishment of the Community Church. Among them were the First Christian, Evangelical, Lutheran, Holiness, Baptist, Catholic and Methodist churches. The initial structure, known as the Sabbath Home Church, was a frame building located on the Robert Dye farm, originally owned by a Methodist congregation. B.F. Clark, a dedicated Methodist, relocated the church to the northern part of town, with Rev. Don Nichols serving as one of its early pastors. The Baptist community also had its presence, while the German Lutheran church was established in 1911.

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On December 9, 1893, Charles C. Hill started the Christian Church, which was an important moment for the community's spiritual growth. Brother L.T. Pasley led the groundbreaking for the new church, with support from families like Pasley, Doolin, Yarnell, Talley, Smith, Richter, Ridge, and Green. The church was built at its current location, where Reverend Bowling Green Reavis from Mexico MO, held a lively revival meeting. His strong belief in unity among Christians encouraged people to come together for worship and community involvement.

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The original First Christian Church building, located on the current site of the Community Church, was demolished to make way for a new structure. During this transition, services were held in the upstairs of the Doolin building. The cornerstone for the new Christian Disciples of Christ was in October 1914, with local masons leading the ceremony and the inscription reading "Christian Church 1914." Following its transformation into the Community Church, the name was simplified to "Christ Church 1914." Construction of the building cost around $7,000, with an initial subscription of $4,000 and by December 2, 1917, the remaining $3,000 debt was completely paid off.

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​Our church started with charter members from the First Christian Church who warmly invited people from other denominations to join us. On May 16, 1915, we had a special ceremony to officially dedicate our church with Reverend Reavis leading the way. We encourage anyone who wants to become a member to consider baptism, allowing you to choose how you wish to be baptized. Together, we create a friendly and welcoming place for worship and community​

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​Rush Hill is a special place where all Christians come together to serve God as one body of Christ.   Coming from all walks of life and denominations, we lovingly come together as one united community. Our church is proudly located on the edge of town, serving as a Guardian Angel that watches over everyone around us. As we take a moment to reflect on the wonderful times we’ve shared together, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to God for all His blessings. We also seek His guidance as we move forward into the future. We invite you to join us in our journey, as we gather to worship and work together in faith and love!

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