Bellevue Christian Church
The History of Bellevue Christian Church
1832 is an early recorded date of the original Christian Church in the old Ninth District of Davidson County. The first congregation was located in the area know as Linton or South Harpeth. Lintons, Allisons and Joslins were prominent families on the rolls. Alexander Campbell preached here briefly and baptized a great many converts, some of whom were great grandparents of those who have reported orally in recent years stories passed down to them. Among these were Newsoms and Howes, as well as others pioneers.
In 1854 two congregations sprang from this original group: one coming to Pasquo, now the Pasquo Church of Christ, the other the Bellevue Christian Church. On the DeMoss land near the old Toll House was built a small frame church, which, after forty years was burned, after services, from an overheated stove in the winter of 1894. But this catastrophe served as a challenge. The DeMosses, Hardings, Carters, Baughs and Bradfords, and other families, accepted the invitation of Mrs. B. A. DeMoss (known to all as "Aunt Bith") to use the Masonic Hall (built in 1850 and still being used by the Masons) for their services. Here Sunday School classes and morning worship services continued with a minister being present to preach once a month. Sometimes on Sunday afternoons in the summer, especially when a revival was in progress, other services were scheduled. Baptismal services were held at the creek that flows in front of the present church, later at Morton's Mill.
In 1906, when "Maplerow" was built, Dr. and Mrs. A. I. Myhr moved to Bellevue and became very much concerned about there not being a church building in which the community could worship their Lord. As a result of the cooperation of members, under the strong leadership of George H. Harding, elder, and Dr. A. I. Myhr, executive secretary of the Christian Churches of Tennessee, the new (now our sanctuary) was completed on land given by Dr. Abe Bradford and land purchased from Mr. Leonard McKeand. It was dedicated on November 5, 1917. Dr. Carey E. Morgan, pastor of Vine Street Christian Church, spoke in the morning, and Dr, James E. Stuart, pastor of Woodland Christian Church (now "Eastwood") in the afternoon. An elaborate picnic lunch was served on the lawn. Mr. Wilson Thompson was in charge of construction, and Joe Redd was the stone mason for the foundation. Others in the community took part in the building program. The Methodist congregation and the Christian Church cooperated, and these two congregations joined hands for ecumenical services at Thanksgiving and at Easter. Often the young people's meeting on Sunday evening were alternated from church to church. In 1967 several acres to the west were purchased at the time Bellevue was beginning to grow, making a total of seven and a half acres of ground for landscaping and expansion in the future.
In 1956 the present Fellowship Hall was added, and four Sunday School classes were held in it while four classes were meeting in the scanctuary, often one or more moving to the yard in warm weather. In 1980 the west wing was completed. A. I. Myhr, Jr., and John Cowden, Jr., were the trustees who oversaw the planning and prudently supervised finances. All records have been kept faithfully and deposited in the Disciples of Christ Historical Library on Nineteenth Avenue, South. C.W.F has been meeting monthly with very few exceptions since November, 1917. Daily Vacation Bible Schools have been held in the summers as a means of religious education and recruitment. Distinguished ministers from far and near have occupied the pulpit. Students in the Vanderbilt Divinity School have been employed as pastors. The first fulltime minister was appointed in 1974; he is now pastor of the Springfield, Virginia Christian Church after serving for ten years as associate pastor of the National City Christian Church, Washington, D.C.
When Bellevue, a rapidly growing suburb of Nashville, merged from rural village, the Bellevue Christian Church likewise was somewhat transformed, and great hopes for the future are now apparent. The ministers and members of the past should be inspired by what is taking place, and should feel amply rewarded for their contributions, difficult as they have often been. From the little brown church in the wildwood the Bellevue Christian Church has left its outgrown shell for a more stately mansion of a Christian family, forward looking, willing to participate, and conscious of the necessity for an outreach program. Evangelism is not lacking, nor is an appreciation for a rich background of devotion to the Lord and magnificent sacrifice.
http://www.bellevuechristianchurch.org/history.html
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