By Nila Harris
Why would you want to enter a dark, creepy crawlspace, and what would you find there? That’s exactly what you do if you’re running electric for a sound system to be heard outside your church. And what would you find? Besides cobwebs and snake skins, you would see mortared field rock which has held up Falmouth Christian Church for 150 years through floods, tornadoes, and countless storms.
This year commemorates 150 years of worship at Falmouth Christian Church. February 19, 2023 will mark the 150th live feed provided to the public through Facebook Live. Adrian Williams will be playing the pipe organ, there will be little or no powerpoint, and “some are talking about wearing attire from days long ago, “stated Bill Traylor, a church elder. The church will also be feeding the Dead Serious About Life cast with a spaghetti lunch in support of their youth group.
The original building was built in 1873, yet the church was established much earlier, according to Traylor. Many of the church’s earliest records were destroyed in a fire, but church deaconess, JoAnn “Crickette” Weber has notes, a 1916 bulletin, and letters written by former congregates who state that Jack Holton, John I. Rogers, Thomas Arnold, and Thomas Munnell were some of the first preachers and founding fathers. Weber also has well-kept research records from longtime church member Dora Helen Fields.
Church construction began in 1872, and services began in 1873, although the building was not completed until four years later. Many of the building materials and labor were done by donations. One church member had a brick kiln, and another had a kiln which made blocks used for the construction. The lot was purchased from William and Elizabeth Bradford for $100, but wasn’t recorded in a deed book until the beginning of 1876 when most of the church construction was completed.
There have been several recorded remodels over the years. The first remodel in 1915 was to the left side of the church. In 1942, the church was redecorated, the baptistery was built, and Sunday School classrooms were added to the rear of the church. During the 60s, the Sunday School classrooms were remodeled, and the fellowship hall was added. Additional property was purchased to the left and right in 1971 and 1974, while the former laundromat property was bought in 2011.
Eight beautiful stained-glass windows adorn the church, featuring a Bible, cross, sheaves of grain, and an open gate within the panes.
Falmouth Christian is pleased to have Gladys Frazier as its oldest member at 107 years young. Teddy Wilson, another longtime member, attended Sunday School with 50 plus years of perfect attendance, until poor health kept him away. He even bypassed moving to Florida so that he wouldn’t break his record! Carol and Nancy Houchen were married in the church and saw many changes in their 68-year marriage until Nancy’s death in 2016. The Houchens have served faithfully there, and Carol still attends regularly. There is a monument in the left side yard commemorating Albert A. Jameson. Jameson not only was a member of FCC, but also was instrumental in developing new programs at the YMCA where he worked. He also worked extensively with the Boy Scouts. “He was one of three men on the 1911 editorial board for the very first Boy Scouts of America Handbook for Kids.” hmdb.org
The church will have activities going on throughout the year to highlight this anniversary, including a monumental project of restoring the bell in the bell tower. Current preacher Richard Halcomb, Jr. and the parishioners at FCC would love for you to come join them to see what they have planned. Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. and Worship service at 10:30 a.m.