Union Christian Church (1866-1949)

Union Christian Church (1866-1949)

3 miles northwest of High Point

Pictures taken by Alan Sparks in 2006. The building was torn down in 2015 or 2016.

From the March 12, 1936 California Democrat:

Union Christian Sunday School Began Back In Nineteenth Century

By Marvin H. Crawford

This week's visit to Sunday Schools was at the Union Christian Church on the Burris Fork about three miles northwest of High Point.

This is another of the Sunday schools that I occasionally attended as a boy. Particularly fond in my memory are two or three Christmas programs and July 4 celebrations put on by the Sunday school there, which I attended with the A. G. Elliott family.

The Union Christian Sunday school had its origin away back in the nineteenth century, no one knows just how far back. Judge J. S. Robertson who was born and reared near the church says a Sunday School was carried on there when he was a little boy and he does not know how old it was then. His father, the late Judge N. J. Robertson, was superintendent then and continued in that capacity most of the time until late in his life when he moved to Enon, with the exception of a period during which he lived in Clarksburg.

At times, however, the school has been discontinued for short periods, later to be reorganized. The present organization was effected Sunday, November 6, 1932, with an enrollment of ninety and the following officers and teachers:

Superintendent: Albert Elliott

Assistant superintendent: Mrs. Walter Gamble

Secretary-Treasurer: Dorothy Vernon

Pianist: Mrs. Alta Lehman

Teachers: Adults, J. H. Elliott; seniors, Mrs. F. T. Hill; juniors, Mrs. Albert Elliott; primary, Mrs. Virgil Barbour

October 6, 1935, it was decided to choose the superintendents by the tenth and that plan is now being followed. Other officers and teachers elected at that time are:

Secretary-Treasurer: Erma Hill

Pianist: Mrs. Elmer Lehman

Teachers: Beginners, Mrs. Walter Gamble; juniors, Mrs. Albert Elliott; seniors, Mrs. Harry Jenkins; Adults, J. H. Elliott

At present the enrollment is seventy and the average attendance is thirty-seven. Due to cold weather, no Sunday school was held during February.

To Judge J. S. Robertson, who while he lives miles away, still keeps his membership at Union and with Mrs. Robertson seldom fails to attend the regular second Sunday preaching service and also the Sunday school on that day, I am endebted to such early history of the church as is available, which follows:

The church was organized in October, 1866, and meetings for worship were held at the home of Wm. Robertson, grandfather of J. S. Robertson, who lived at the site of the buildings on the Herman Birdsong farm about two miles west of Union and at other homes in the community.

Wm. Robertson's land extended down the Burris Fork to the site of the church and for some distance west of his home as well. One Sunday at a church gathering at his home he announced to the men of the congregation that all who desired to have a regular house of worship might report with their axes at a spring on the lower part of his farm the following morning, that he'd donate the spring and a sufficient parcel of land around it for a church site and cemetery and that trees there and nearby on his land might be utilized to provide logs for the erection of a church house.

The work began the following morning and a log church which was used for some years soon was provided. It was replaced by a frame building which stood just east of the present church. This second church was replaced in 1892-93 with the building now in use. J. H. Hill and Lash Francis were members of the building committee when the present church was constructed.

The Rev. J. W. Sappington was pastor of the church for several years in its earlier days.

One of the greatest revival meetings ever held there was by a Reverend Mr. Monser of Bunceton about 1895. It is said that Lash Francis who throughout his lifetime was one of the most ardent supporters of the church, and Judge N. J. Robertson decided they would pay Monser for his services $5 for each convert. Before the meeting had been in progress many days there were fifteen converts in a single evening, and the sponsors decided it best to lower their figure.

The High Point Christian Church was later organized with a considerable portion of its membership from Union. Charter members of the church were Wm. Robertson, Catherine Robertson, Wm. Francis, J. L. Grayum, Rebecca Grayum, J. T. Francis, Elizabeth Francis, Levi Dutcher, Jane Dutcher, Eliza Jackson, Susan Jackson, Margaret Dutcher, N. J. Robertson, Catherine Robertson, Jas. Dutcher, James Robertson, Matilda Robertson, J. C. Francis, G. W. Robertson, Larceny Robertson, and Elizabeth Kelsay. James Robertson was the father of the late Dr. J. M. Robertson of Latham.

The Rev. C. C. Dameron of Middletown, Montgomery County, has been pastor of the church the past two or three years.

From the High Point Community History:

Copy on file at the Moniteau County Historical Society

The church was organized in October 1866 and meetings for worship were held at the home of William Robertson, grandfather of the late Judge J S Robertson, who lived at the site of the buildings on the Leo Englebrecht farm 2 miles west of Union Church. William Robertson's land extended down the Burris Fork creek to the site of the church. One Sunday at a church gathering at his home, he announced to the men of the congregation that all who desired to have a regular house of worship might report with their axes at a spring on the lower part of his farm the following morning, that he would donate the spring and a sufficient parcel of land around it for a church site and cemetery, and that trees there and nearby on his land be utilized to provide logs for the erection of a church house.

Work began on the following morning and a log church which was used for some years was soon provided. It was replaced by a frame building which stood just east of the present building. The second building still in use once yearly for memorial services, was dedicated August 17, 1894. Cost of the church building was $770. Membership in October, 1894 was 83. The membership list numbered 205 during the years 1895 to 1898.

One of the greatest revival meetings ever held there was by a Rev. Mr. Monser of Bunceton about 1895. It is said that Lash Francis, who throughout his lifetime was one of the most ardent supporters of the church, and Judge N J Robertson decided they would pay Monser for his services, $5 for each convert. Before the meeting had been in progress many days there were 15 converts in a single evening, and the sponsors decided it best to lower their figure. The High Point Christian Church was later organized with a considerable portion of its membership from Union.

Many ministers served Union church with great success, the church often being filled during revivals. All the baptisms were in the nearby creek. The minister best remembered was the last one, a very dedicated man, Rev. W A Dameron of Middletown. He served from 1930 until 1949 when old age made the trip too much for him.

If anyone has information on this church, please contact Alan Sparks.

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