Christ UMC Newport News,VA

Our History

1953 - 2008

FIFTY YEARS SERVING OUR LORD

Christ Chapel was organized on February 15, 1953, sponsored by Grace Methodist Church (now Noland Memorial United Methodist Church) with Rev. A. Purnell Bailey as pastor. The first service was held in the Deep Creek Civic Building which was to house the Church until a building could be constructed. This building was standing where Kenilworth Drive is now. The first public service was held on February 22, 1953, with 39 present and an offering of $16.26.

On May 10, 1953, Mothers Day, Christ Chapel became Christ Methodist Church with Dr. R. O. Bryant, District Superintendent, conducting the service. There were 35 charter members taken into the membership of the Church. In November the present acreage was purchased. The first service held on the property was Easter Sunrise Service, April 8, 1954.After the regular Sunday morning worship service, ground was broken for the first part of our church building. The summer was very busy with many money-making projects, books of tickets, each of which represented a cinder block, bake sales, turkey dinners, fish fry, auction sale, etc. The members contributed untold hours of labor to make our church reality.

What a happy day when on February 20, 1955, the Formal Opening of the new Church Sanctuary was held! Eddie Hornlein, Jr., pastor, Dr. William P. Watkins, District Supeintendent, and Rev. A. P. Bailey all took part in the worship service. The membership was 90. This building is now known as our Fellowship Hall.

The Educational Building ground breaking was held on June 14, 1959, with Dr. William P. Watkins presiding. The consecration service was on January 31, 1960.

Under the will of the late Mr. Seward the church was able to acquire a piece of property on Ferndale Drive and build a Parsonage. The trustees were instructed to accept a small brass plaque that would be affixed to the exterior of the new parsonage near the front entrance bearing the inscription: "Christ Methodist Church Parsonage, Erected in Memory of Irvin Kenneth Seward."

Ground was broken on September 20, 1970, for the present sanctuary. The first service in our new sanctuary was "C" Day: Consecration of our new building. Catuch-up day for our pledges, and Celebration of our 18th Anniversary and HomeComing on May 6, 1971. The men of the church purchased a pipe organ in Washington D.C. They trasported, rebuilt, and installed it in the church sanctuary. It was used for the first time in Morning Worship on June 6, 1971, played by Margaret Ann Johnson.

In 1984, after many years of strain and struggle, the mortgage on the Sanctuary was retired and the Sanctuary was consecrated in May.

In 2002 The Church Sold our parsonage on Ferndale Dr. Purchased a new Parsonage on Wendwood Dr. The New parsonage has much more space for the minister's family.

Today, Christ Church is alive, well, and is striving to do greater service in the Lord. We've experienced growth, community involvement and vision as our theme reflects:

"Believing - Belonging - Becoming"

Charter Members

Jacqueline C. Barnhardt
Billy C. Black
Charles B. Black
Jerry Lee Black
Vivian McGuffrey Black
Harold B. Cecil
Leslie A. Clarke
Viola K. Clarke
Cora W. DeGinder
Joseph O. Dennis
Howard H. Fawcett
Bernice H. Fisher
Sue B. Fitchett
Daniel W. Gibson
Mary A. Gibson
Robert H. Gibson, Jr.
Robert H. Gibson, III
Joe Charles Gowdy
Leslie W. Heckler
Edward P. Hornlein
Edward P. Hornlein, Jr.
Ellis M. Johnson
Margaret R. Johnson
Douglas M. Lawson
M. Lynette Lawson
Vivian McGuffey Black
Helen D. McKinnen
Elizabeth C. McManus
Janet Rowe
Bobby Y. Sivertson
Walter E. Sivertson
Lalla W. Swicegood
W. Leo Swicegood
Benjamin Willis, Jr.
Betty W. Willis
Gladys B. Willis

Ministers Of Christ Church