Eastside Church of Christ
Duncan, Oklahoma
Duncan, Oklahoma
Eastside Church of Christ
The Church in the Duncan area...
No one can have a real knowledge of a church such as Eastside without a
knowledge of its history and without going back to the establishment of the
church in Duncan. Eastside had its roots in that first assembly of the Lord's people
approximately 86 years ago. The only representative of the Restoration Movement
at that time in Duncan was a Christian Church that met on Pecan Street. However,
there were a group of Christians meeting in the Empire area, southwest of
Duncan, in a little red schoolhouse. In about two years a new schoolhouse was
built, a mile north, and a mile west, of the old one and this location was called
Center Point. The church began to meet there in 1909 and continued to do so for
several years.
Meanwhile, in Duncan, some Christian families had appeared and they met
regularly in the courthouse from 1910 to 1922. From 1917 to 1919 this group
grew considerably because many from the Center Point group moved into town as
the oil boom took hold. Several individuals in the Eastside church and other
congregations will remember the names of some of these families: Vosses,
Chasteens, Andersons, Finleys, Burnetts, Branscums, Nighs, Sheets, Coxes,
Taylors, Wilkinsons, Prices, Armstrongs, Millers, McPhersons, Chicks, Clouds,
Meeks, Burks, Caruths, Pribbles, Ridleys, and Schicks. Some of these families met
in Duncan, some at Center Point, and some at both places.
Among the first group of elders in the Lord's church were: L.W. Pribble, M. R.
Ridley, George Schick, and E. S. Armstrong. Some of the preachers who held
extended meetings in the area were: C.R. Nichol, J. M. Childrens, Warlick
Wilkinson, and A. W. Young. As the group meeting in the courthouse grew larger,
the idea of erecting a building in which to worship seemed practical. E. S.
Armstrong, who served both as preacher and elder, donated a lot which he had
purchased at the corner of 14th and Main and in 1923 the first meeting house
was completed.
The original building at Westside was modified several times to accommodate the
swelling church, but growth continued. The 1940's brought an organized, diligent
effort to handle the growth and at the same time extend the influence of the
church in the community. The result was the beginning of the Oak and A Street
Church (Eastside). This was done in cooperation with the 14th and Main
(Westside) congregation, now known as the Chisholm Trail Church of Christ.
Eastside's first assembled meeting was January 2, 1949. One hundred eighty-nine
people assembled for that first meeting. The first song by the new group was
"Watch and Pray" and was led by Chet Norton. The first scripture reading was
John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
Serving at the Lord's Table that first Sunday were: J. W. Walker, V. K. McMasters,
Horace Wright, Joe Johnson, J. C. Wilkinson, Clayton Fowler, and Near Calamine.
Bill Guymon served as the first minister for the church. Elders were: J.M. Walker,
Joe E. Johnson, Bruce Ridley, M. L. Keener, and Near Calamine. Deacons were:
Clayton Fowler, W. M. Branch, Russell Johnson, Ray Ridley, Horace Wright, V. K.
McMasters, John R. Cook, and Chet Norton.
In November of 1949, the first wedding ceremony was performed, that of Alex and
Billie Branch. The second wedding was that of Herschel and Betty Thomas in June
of 1950. Near Calamine served as first Bible School Director; Raymon James as
Church Treasurer; Joe Laird conducted the first gospel meeting at Eastside and
Scotty Norton, son of Chet and Bonnie Norton, was the first person baptized at
Oak and A.
No one can have a real knowledge of a church such as Eastside without a
knowledge of its history and without going back to the establishment of the
church in Duncan. Eastside had its roots in that first assembly of the Lord's people
approximately 86 years ago. The only representative of the Restoration Movement
at that time in Duncan was a Christian Church that met on Pecan Street. However,
there were a group of Christians meeting in the Empire area, southwest of
Duncan, in a little red schoolhouse. In about two years a new schoolhouse was
built, a mile north, and a mile west, of the old one and this location was called
Center Point. The church began to meet there in 1909 and continued to do so for
several years.
Meanwhile, in Duncan, some Christian families had appeared and they met
regularly in the courthouse from 1910 to 1922. From 1917 to 1919 this group
grew considerably because many from the Center Point group moved into town as
the oil boom took hold. Several individuals in the Eastside church and other
congregations will remember the names of some of these families: Vosses,
Chasteens, Andersons, Finleys, Burnetts, Branscums, Nighs, Sheets, Coxes,
Taylors, Wilkinsons, Prices, Armstrongs, Millers, McPhersons, Chicks, Clouds,
Meeks, Burks, Caruths, Pribbles, Ridleys, and Schicks. Some of these families met
in Duncan, some at Center Point, and some at both places.
Among the first group of elders in the Lord's church were: L.W. Pribble, M. R.
Ridley, George Schick, and E. S. Armstrong. Some of the preachers who held
extended meetings in the area were: C.R. Nichol, J. M. Childrens, Warlick
Wilkinson, and A. W. Young. As the group meeting in the courthouse grew larger,
the idea of erecting a building in which to worship seemed practical. E. S.
Armstrong, who served both as preacher and elder, donated a lot which he had
purchased at the corner of 14th and Main and in 1923 the first meeting house
was completed.
The original building at Westside was modified several times to accommodate the
swelling church, but growth continued. The 1940's brought an organized, diligent
effort to handle the growth and at the same time extend the influence of the
church in the community. The result was the beginning of the Oak and A Street
Church (Eastside). This was done in cooperation with the 14th and Main
(Westside) congregation, now known as the Chisholm Trail Church of Christ.
Eastside's first assembled meeting was January 2, 1949. One hundred eighty-nine
people assembled for that first meeting. The first song by the new group was
"Watch and Pray" and was led by Chet Norton. The first scripture reading was
John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
Serving at the Lord's Table that first Sunday were: J. W. Walker, V. K. McMasters,
Horace Wright, Joe Johnson, J. C. Wilkinson, Clayton Fowler, and Near Calamine.
Bill Guymon served as the first minister for the church. Elders were: J.M. Walker,
Joe E. Johnson, Bruce Ridley, M. L. Keener, and Near Calamine. Deacons were:
Clayton Fowler, W. M. Branch, Russell Johnson, Ray Ridley, Horace Wright, V. K.
McMasters, John R. Cook, and Chet Norton.
In November of 1949, the first wedding ceremony was performed, that of Alex and
Billie Branch. The second wedding was that of Herschel and Betty Thomas in June
of 1950. Near Calamine served as first Bible School Director; Raymon James as
Church Treasurer; Joe Laird conducted the first gospel meeting at Eastside and
Scotty Norton, son of Chet and Bonnie Norton, was the first person baptized at
Oak and A.
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