Kent
Ohio
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First Christian Church of Kent
Our Mission
Believing that God loves us and calls us into a growing relationship with God and Jesus Christ, God's Son, we of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Kent believe our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ by following Christ's ministry of preaching, which invites persons to experience a transforming relationship with Christ; teaching, which reveals the will of God for our lives; healing, which seeks to restore the wholeness intended by God to the people of our congregation, our community, and beyond.
Our Beliefs
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believes:
- in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the message of salvation for all persons;
- that anyone who makes an affirmation of faith in Christ can become a church member;
- in the baptism of persons old enough to make an affirmation of faith;
- in the Bible as the major guide for the individual life and the life of the church;
- in the right of personal interpretation of the Bible;
- in the unity of the people of God; and
- in direct government of the church by our congregation and Official Board.
Our History
In July of 1827, a small group of 12 to 15 residents of Franklin Mills (now Kent) met together to create a new congregation of Christians who subscribed to a new form of frontier Christianity. These "Disciples" practiced a pragmatic faith with a universal perspective that was born in the Great Western Revival at the turn of the 19th century right here in the Northwest Territory. The paucity of people and the diversity of faiths they came from necessitated tolerance and resulted in the ideological foundation of today's Disciples of Christ-that "All Christians should cooperate in ministry wherever possible, affirming each other as sisters and brothers in Christ" and "Each person is free to determine individual belief guided by the Bible, the Holy spirit, and prayer." Except for one other congregation who was formed six months earlier and who meets in Mantua Center, this makes Kent's congregation the oldest congregation in the Entire Disciple Denomination.
For a number of years, the Franklin Mills congregation met in members' homes. On December 17, 1848, the congregation reorganized with 52 charter members, adopting the name First Church of the Disciples of Christ and then began to meet in the Franklin Township District #4 schoolhouse, now a house at 702 Hudson Road in Kent. During 1852 a series of evangelistic meetings were held, which resulted in the discussion of plans for a new church and the formation of a committee to make these plans.
The Disciples Church was organized under state law on December 12, 1853. A lot on River Street (now Gougler Ave), near Park Ave, was purchased and construction of the "Stone Church" was started in 1854. At this time, the members encountered great difficulty in raising money to complete the building. However, the walls were erected and the roof was put on by 1855, but construction stopped at this point. Even though the building was incomplete, they held services in it and it was dedicated in 1855 with Rev. Almon B. Green giving the dedicatory address and preaching the first sermon in the new church.
In 1867 the congregation became sufficiently prosperous to proceed with the construction and Rev. Isaac Errett of Cleveland dedicated the church on Sunday, August 9, 1868. Our church has hosted any number of well-known people in its history. President James A. Garfield, as president of Hiram College and Civil war hero, has preached from our pulpit. In 1903 the parsonage at 311 Park Ave was erected. In 1905, the church was redecorated, the interior remodeled, and the last mortgage burned.
Believing that God loves us and calls us into a growing relationship with God and Jesus Christ, God's Son, we of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Kent believe our mission is to share the good news of Jesus Christ by following Christ's ministry of preaching, which invites persons to experience a transforming relationship with Christ; teaching, which reveals the will of God for our lives; healing, which seeks to restore the wholeness intended by God to the people of our congregation, our community, and beyond.
Our Beliefs
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) believes:
- in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the message of salvation for all persons;
- that anyone who makes an affirmation of faith in Christ can become a church member;
- in the baptism of persons old enough to make an affirmation of faith;
- in the Bible as the major guide for the individual life and the life of the church;
- in the right of personal interpretation of the Bible;
- in the unity of the people of God; and
- in direct government of the church by our congregation and Official Board.
Our History
In July of 1827, a small group of 12 to 15 residents of Franklin Mills (now Kent) met together to create a new congregation of Christians who subscribed to a new form of frontier Christianity. These "Disciples" practiced a pragmatic faith with a universal perspective that was born in the Great Western Revival at the turn of the 19th century right here in the Northwest Territory. The paucity of people and the diversity of faiths they came from necessitated tolerance and resulted in the ideological foundation of today's Disciples of Christ-that "All Christians should cooperate in ministry wherever possible, affirming each other as sisters and brothers in Christ" and "Each person is free to determine individual belief guided by the Bible, the Holy spirit, and prayer." Except for one other congregation who was formed six months earlier and who meets in Mantua Center, this makes Kent's congregation the oldest congregation in the Entire Disciple Denomination.
For a number of years, the Franklin Mills congregation met in members' homes. On December 17, 1848, the congregation reorganized with 52 charter members, adopting the name First Church of the Disciples of Christ and then began to meet in the Franklin Township District #4 schoolhouse, now a house at 702 Hudson Road in Kent. During 1852 a series of evangelistic meetings were held, which resulted in the discussion of plans for a new church and the formation of a committee to make these plans.
The Disciples Church was organized under state law on December 12, 1853. A lot on River Street (now Gougler Ave), near Park Ave, was purchased and construction of the "Stone Church" was started in 1854. At this time, the members encountered great difficulty in raising money to complete the building. However, the walls were erected and the roof was put on by 1855, but construction stopped at this point. Even though the building was incomplete, they held services in it and it was dedicated in 1855 with Rev. Almon B. Green giving the dedicatory address and preaching the first sermon in the new church.
In 1867 the congregation became sufficiently prosperous to proceed with the construction and Rev. Isaac Errett of Cleveland dedicated the church on Sunday, August 9, 1868. Our church has hosted any number of well-known people in its history. President James A. Garfield, as president of Hiram College and Civil war hero, has preached from our pulpit. In 1903 the parsonage at 311 Park Ave was erected. In 1905, the church was redecorated, the interior remodeled, and the last mortgage burned.