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First Congregational United Church of Christ


category : Historic Churches
First Congregational United Church of Christ

The origin of the First Congregational Church of Pierce City occurred when Rev. J.H. Harwood, a Congregational minister, was on his way from Springfield to Neosho to fulfill an engagement and failed to make a stage connection. The heavy rains forced him to remain overnight in Pierce City and in roaming about the city, he fell into conversation with L.L.L. Allen. The result was an arrangement for services to be held the next day in a hall over Fall and Flowers Hardware store on Commercial Street. While no record of this date appears, it was probably in the fall of 1870.


In 1875, the congregation, now numbering forty-five, finished building their own church, and Rev. T.A. Wickes was called as the first resident pastor. The church was struck by lightening in 1880, damaging the tower. In 1887 the church building was extended 20 feet to the east line of the lot, and again in 1902-03, the building was remodeled and enlarged. W.H. Thompson of St. Louis, a lifelong friend of L.L.L. Allen, gave the Estey pipe organ now in use, to the church.


The church's bell tower, which was destroyed in the May 4, 2003 tornado that damaged many Pierce City buildings, has been replaced. The new bell tower was raised on July 3, 2003 and other repairs have been completed on the historic building. The congregation resumed services in the Fellowship Hall of the damgaged building the first Sunday in June 2003. The historic organ was repaired in 2004. Regular services resumed in the repaired sanctuary during the summer of 2003.


YOU ARE INVITED TO FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST!
Join us for Sunday worship service at 10 a.m.

Meet new pastor Rev. Kemery Baldwin at the 10 a.m. worship service!

visit our web page at: http://www.freewebs.com/firstcongregationalucc/


Address: Walnut and Washington Streets
Phone: 417-476-2126
Our Email: hbwmuseuminpcmo@aol.com
Our Website:www.firstcongregationalucc.webs.com

Come visit us in Pierce City, Missouri

Attractions and Upcoming Events

1922 Bandstand

The bandstand was damaged in the May 4, 2003, tornado but the base still stands in its original location on Walnut Street. The historic bandstand was rebuilt with a red roof (its original color) and rededicated in May 2004.

Pierce City, MO Historic Downtowns

1886 Firehouse

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the old City Hall and Firehouse was built in 1886 and houses two vintage fire trucks from overseas. This building is privately owned.

Pierce City, MO Historic Buildings

Shepherd Sawmill - Jolly Mill Park

The Shepherd family has operated sawmills in this area for many years. The family built this sawmill to honor all members of the family. The sawmill is steam powered by a 1918

Pierce City, MO Historic Mills

Harold Bell Wright/Pierce City Museum

When the First Christian Church (aka Pierce City Christian Church) in Pierce City closed, its board decided to give the building to the community for a library. The building served as Pierce City's public library from 1933-2000

Pierce City, MO Museums

First National Bank Building (no longer standing)

THIS BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED AFTER SUSTAINING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE MAY 4, 2003, TORNADO.

The old First National Bank building was located next to the bandstand was built in the 1890s. After the Lawrence County Bank (on the opposite corner) was dissolved in the mid-1920

Pierce City, MO Architecture

Things to do Historic Churches near Pierce City, MO