First Christian Church is a congregation with a long, rich heritage. Established soon after the founding of Marshall in 1856, eleven charter members met in the Court House. Little did they know what God was going to accomplish over the years through their efforts.

Soon they moved to an old log school house, then to the Ohio Oil Co. office building (now the Unit Office for the Marshall school system) and then in 1859 an auditorium was erected just off the southwest corner of the public square on Market, and Locust Street.

The architecture of the building not unique to other churches at that time. It was rectangular with two entrances. As was the custom of the day, the men used one side and the women the other. In case of parents, the father and mother entered their respective doors, and then sat on the same seat on either side of the center partition, that they might assist each other in caring for the children.

For nearly 136 years, that building survived fires, rebuilding, remodeling and additions. Then in 1991, the First Christian Church purchased nine acres of property across from the Marshall High and Jr. High Schools. The congregation broke ground for the new facility in May of 1992. Then on February 23, 1993, the members of FCC left their downtown building and marched down Locust Street to the new facility on Sixth Street.

The church over the world has had its up and downs and the church at Marshal is no exception. On the whole it has become an exciting place of worship and spiritual growth. God has blessed the congregation and its message in amazing ways.

In 1998 the mortgage on the new building was shredded and actions were immediately taken to build a family life center. This center houses a gymnasium, stage, and six large classrooms. The ground breaking took place July 4, 1999. And construction was completed in September 24, 2000.

In 1925 at a dedication service, it was said: “We set apart this house for the worship of God, and for the service of this community. We will devote it to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to the education of Christians in spiritual truth; and to their growth in Christian character.

Here shall the incense of prayer ascend to God. Here shall the ordinances of the Lord’s house be sacredly observed. Here shall the Word of God be proclaimed for the salvation of the lost and the encouragement of the church.

May multitudes here be born from above, so, when all these who are here today shall have gone to their eternal home, others will take up the service, repeat the old story of the Cross, and sing the songs of Zion.”

We’ve changed a lot over the years. We now have a traditional worship service and two contemporary services ever Sunday. We have children’s, youth and adult ministries. We are constantly trying new things, starting new ministries and attempting new methods of communicating the gospel to the people around us. However, we are still grounded in the age-old gospel of Christ.