Since its erection in 1915, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Marceline at 116 West Gracia Avenue, in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri has provided space for the public and local groups to hold ceremonial meetings, gather for fellowship and festivities, and organize their charitable activities. The building’s design and decorative details on the primary southern façade facing W. Gracia most markedly, but also on the three other elevations makes the church a noteworthy instance of its genre in Marceline and the surrounding area—a unique temple of worship based on Greco-Roman concepts and unlike other regional places of worship. This building is locally significant under Criterion C: ARCHITECTURE because it is an exceptional example of the Classical Revival style popular during the end of the 19th century into the 20th century, and is part of a 10-year building Renaissance in Marceline that saw the erection of several buildings, like the Santa Fe Depot (1913), I.O.O.F. Building (1915), Carnegie Library (1920), and Masonic Lodge #481 (1923-1924). Additionally, it is one of northern Missouri’s best adaptions of a Neoclassical-style place of worship, demonstrating the translation of an American architecture style[1] to Missouri’s rural areas during the World War I era (1914-1918). Finally, the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Marceline preserves its prime historical features, including having fully incorporated the original 1890 church into the 1915 building and maintaining its original dimensions in every way. Each elevation of the church has been virtually unaltered in appearance, updated only for safety and to improve access for those with mobility issues, since the building’s construction by local contractor and architect, A. J. Reynolds, over 100 years ago. The period of significance is 1915, the start and finish dates of construction.
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The History of the Disciples of Christ
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a Protestant denomination that has been around since the early 1800s. The Church “grew out of two movements seeking Christian unity that sprang up almost simultaneously in western Pennsylvania and Kentucky – movements that were backlashes against the rigid denominationalism of the early 1800s.”[2] The first movement was second was Presbyterian minister Barton W. Stone; the second movement involved the father and son duo of Thomas and Alexander Campbell. These two movements pursued the same ideology: A unified church. The movements would later combine to become known as the Stone-Campbell (reformation) Movement.
By the early 1800s, it was common to believe that the only people in heaven were the people in your specific denomination. This concept didn’t sit well with many, and it led to a revolt.[3] Two factions with similar ideologies split off from the church.
Because the aims and practices of the two groups were similar, the groups united in 1832 in Lexington, KY after about a quarter of a century of separate development; they did it with a simple handshake.[4]
Today, “the Stone-Campbell churches are characterized by a focus on New Testament teaching, shared governance between clergy and laity, baptism by immersion, ecumenism, and the regular celebration of communion during worship.”[5]
The Disciples of Christ have a history of reaching out to other traditions. In 1910, they established the Council on Christian Unity to foster an inter-denominational community as the denomination’s founders sought to do in 1832. They were also active in forming the National and World Councils of Churches. In 1989, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ declared that “a relationship of full communion now exists between our two churches.”[6] This sense of unity is echoed in the architecture of the Marceline church.
How the Marceline First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Came to Be
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been a part of the Marceline community since the city’s founding in February of 1888.
Members of the Christian Church first met in a store on Santa Fe Avenue on 20 May 1888 (three months after Marceline officially became a city) for the sole purpose of organizing a church. [7] The decision was unanimous. The congregation met in that store until August of 1889, then moved to the Baptist Church, which they rented out, for the next six months.[8]
On 14 December 1889, they decided to purchase land on West Gracia Avenue, the land on which the current church sits. Within a year, they had built the first church on the site, dedicating it on 28 September 1890. The building was there for the next 25 years (see Figure 15).[9]
The erection of the current church building occurred at the start of a ten-year building renaissance in Marceline, which included the erection of the Santa Fe Depot (1913), I.O.O.F. Building (1915), Carnegie Library (1920), the Masonic Lodge (1923-1924), and several homes During this time the high school (built in 1929) was conceived, and talk about a new post office commenced.
On 6 December 1914, the church leaders officially deemed the old building inadequate for the growing congregation. “A committee was appointed to rebuild, the instructions to use the old building [the original 1890 church] in the reconstruction. An entirely new auditorium [the current Sanctuary] was erected [and] the old structure was converted into the Bible School annex.”[10] It was reported in the Marceline Herald, that “the church Board of the Christian church, presented to the congregation resolutions for building in 1915, which were adapted.”[11]
In February 1915, the church began considering plans and first consulted with “a Moberly architect name Abt [sic]…Monday a meeting was held at which Albert Fuller, a Kansas City architect, submitted plans.”[12]
It was on 20 May 1915, exactly 27 years to the day of the decision by the congregation to organize, that the church board approved a contract between the church building committee and Albert (A.J.) Richardson, a local general contractor and architect.[13] Richardson had completed designing the First Christian Church in Lancaster, Missouri, less than a year earlier (Figure 17).[14]
There is a discrepancy in the final amount of the building, but there is a general sense of the cost based on three accounts. The pricing found in The Magic City and in varios Marceline Herald and Marceline Journal-Mirror articles vary somewhat. One Herald article states the church designated $11,000 for the edifice and $2,000 for the furnishings.[15] The Magic City asserts it was $10,000 for the edifice and $2,000 for the furnishings.[16] Yet another Herald article indicates the contract was $10,990 with no mention of the cost of the interior aspects.[17] It is safe to conclude that the edifice cost over $10,000 and an additional $2000 for interior aspects was most likely added to that sum.
Originally, the church earmarked $9,000 and pledged $7.353.50 for the project.[18] There doesn’t appear to be any in-depth explanation as to which account of the final cost is correct, but the The Marceline Herald did stipulate that “some changes have been made which will make the cost some greater, but which are of such importance that it was thought wise to make them. [These changes include] steel trusses in the roof, Carthage cut limestone instead of concrete in the trim, and the making of the colonial columns from steek instead of wood, all tending to make a much more lasting building.”[19]
The Church’s Design Specifics
Shortly before construction began, the church’s building committee recommended adopting Richardson’s plan “to remodel and build by turning present building around, making Sunday School rooms of it, to put a full basement under all the building and build new solid brick auditorium and veneer the old building.”[20] They later added some more detail, stating that the plan was to “[veneer] it with brick, to match the new building.”[21]
The Chariton Courier noted that “dark red brick trimmed with stone will be the material.”[22]
The Marceline Journal-Mirror indicated that, while several other designs were submitted, they adopted those by a local architect—Albert (A.J.) Richardson[23]—who “has already established a wide reputation as an architect.”[24] The article specifies that Richardson’s plans stipulate it will “be 90×56 in dimension. The design is colonial, and the front with its massive columns and gables will give the building a pleasing appearance.” Furthermore, the “main auditorium will be 44×44 feet, and there will be two vestibules opening off the porch in front of the roof of which will be sustained by four steel columns, thirty inches through. A roling [sic] partition will separate the main auditorium from the Sunday School room, 36×50, two stories high in which there will also be seventeen class rooms [sic].”[25]
The article further states that the “basement will contain the dining room, 35×36 feet, with kitchen, work room, etc. and the furnace room.”[26]
The roof’s design was said to be steel trusses and shingled. Additionally, there “will be five gables in the roof. Carthage stone will be used for the trimming, and the entire structure will be made of brick, a veneer being used over the old part of the church which will be used as the rear of the edifice.” The article’s description added that “The porch will be twenty-eight feet long and ten feet wide.”[27] The Marceline Herald adds that the “two massive steel pillars [will be] 30 inches in circumference at their base.”[28]
A later article describes the church as, “a pleasing structure with roofs and gables, large Iambic [sic] columns in front and its general lines giving it the appearance of a house of worship.”[29]
The construction of the new church wasn’t just local news; nearby counties also reported on it. The Chariton Courier, for example, added a short write-up to its Linn County column stating, “The laying of the corner stone of the new Christian church at Marceline was performed Friday of last week.”[30]
With respect to the cornerstone, the Marceline Journal-Mirror noted that the laying of the cornerstone drew a large crowd, and that the cornerstone is “a block of Carthage rock 18 x 6 x 5 lowered into position in the center of the building as you enter.” The article also states that the cornerstone is inscribed with the following message: “First Christian Church 1914.”[31] Elder David Lyon, pastor of the church, had charge of the ceremonies, and the box inclosed [sic] in the hollow part of the stone contained copies of local newspapers, a short history of the church, the membership and the name I. Jeff Buster, the oldest living member.”[32]
However, this account of the cornerstone is described slightly differently by The Marceline Herald. That newspaper states the cornerstone is of “Phoenix limestone” and the stone’s inscription is “First Christian Church Erected 1915.” This is the final inscription in the stone. The report also describes items placed in the cornerstone box: “In the stone will be placed a history of the local church, a copy of the doctrine of the church, a list of officers, building and ways and means committees, and copies of the newspapers of that date.”[33]
The construction of the 1915 church building took only six (6) months. It was dedicated on 19 December 1915 and cost $16, 590.00,[34] well over the original budget range of $9,000 to $11,000 described by the newspapers at the onset of the building.
As part of the project, thirteen (13) memorial windows were given to the church by local people and organizations. No makers marks have been found on the windows, and more research is required to determine who the artist is that did the work.[35]
The only apparent change in the above compendium of descriptions is that it is not “colonial”. Otherwise, the “main auditorium”, the rolling partition, “massive columns”, and the two vestibules that Richardson designed still exist just as they were originally designed and built, and the shell of the original 1890 church remains untouched and simply covered externally with a veneer of brick.[36]
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Classical Revival
Whiffen notes the principal characteristics that appear in Classical Revival buildings “show none of the tendency to multiply angles and projections; broad expanse[s] of plain wall surface are common; roof lines, when not level, are quiet, and unbroken by sculptural incidents.” Moreover, Whiffen states that the “Greek orders are employed much more often than the Roman, and in keeping with this windows and doorway are linteled rather than arched; pedimented porticoes are frequent features” and coupled columns are not used.[42] McAlester adds that these buildings had facades “dominated by [a] full-height porch with roof supported by classical columns; columns typically have Ionic or Corinthian capitals” and facades with symmetrically balanced windows and a central door. [43]
These Neoclassical aspects are evident in the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Marceline:
The walls of the east, west, and north elevations are bays, all of which are broad expanses without any elaborate embellishments. The brick is common red brick with slight color variations throughout giving the appearance of depth. The only embellishment is the masonry rustication in various areas of several walls with the varied color of the brick bond.
All windows and doorways are topped with masonry lintels. No arches are present over these sections. Everything is simple and straight-forward.
While no pediment is above the lintel as would be expected with classical neoclassical architecture, Richardson designed the roof in such a way as to give the illusion of a pediment (Photo 1) over the porch/portico when viewing the structure’s south façade from the street. The roof lines are straight and unbroken by sculptural incidents. Only chimney’s break up the roof lines.
The symmetry of the south façade is clear. The two sides of the façade are mirror images of one another. The balance between the east and west elevations is also evident. The facades are clear mirrors of one another with the recessed large bay on the east façade reflected in the protruding central bay of the west elevation. Windows are lined up in perfect symmetry with five on the front, three on each of the west and east elevations, and one on each tower wall that’s part of the south façade.
The columns are Ionic and not coupled, thus employing Greek orders, and their height is enough to allow for a full-height porch with roof supported by classic columns to dominate the south façade. The four-column portico with the illusion of a pediment give the impression of a tetrastyle portico.
The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Albert (A.J.) Richardson
In 1906, Albert J. Richardson, who started working in the local coal mines when he was 10, took a job “in the carpenter trade, in 1909 started contracting on large buildings. Among the monuments to his skill and enterprise are the new Methodist Episcopal church in Marceline … two structures of magnitude in Macon conty [sic], and a number of other buildings for business and residence purposes.”[44] He learned his craft through hard work, because he had “no educational advantages but what he secured for himself through correspondence schools.”[45]
Six years after he started contacting on large buildings, Richardson was awarded the contract to design the 1915 church. After Richardson drafted the plans for the 1915 church, the church consulted with B.J. Patrick, builder of the Hotel Allen and Park School (both in Marceline). Patrick wrote that “I find that they are admirably drawn, and with a specification to set forth the quality of material, which I am confident Mr. Richardson is fully competent to make, there is no reason that you should not get a first class and very beautiful building.”[46]
Not only did he design and build the current church building, but he was also a member of the committee that purchased the organ.[47] Richardson was born in 1881 and married his wife Mary in 1908.[48] According to the 1910 census records, he was a carpenter in Marceline,[49] which aligns with the history in the Compendium. Afterwards, he is referred to as an architect in multiple articles discussing the plan to build the church. Sometime after building the church and before 1938, Richardson and his wife Mary moved to Joplin, Missouri and opened a building and architecture company.[50]
Segregation
By all accounts, there was never segregation in the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Non-white Christians had a Baptist church that they all presumably went to. Whether this was by design or not is unknown. More research is necessary to determine whether any non-white parishioners attended any of the other area “white” churches. However, the church’s history and membership criteria since its inception, as dictated by the Scott-Campbell agreement (“All are welcome”), has shown it to be one of the few denominations that did not care about skin color, gender, or anything else. Since their inception, the main doctrine has been that one must only believe in God’s word to be part of the Christian Church. This century old doctrine is reflected in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) region to which Marceline’s First Christian Church belongs. This region has an ongoing “Anti-Racism Pro-Reconciling Justice Ministries Training” program which continues the doctrine the Church espouses: All are welcome.[56] Further implying that the church was open and welcoming to all those who believe in God is that the Church held the Lincoln School commencement in the current church building In 1921, indicating that people of color were welcome.[57]
Marceline’s First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is a unique local and regional example of an early-twentieth century rural church. It demonstrates a simple composition that stands out from other buildings within Marceline’s city limits. It stands out as do most houses of worship: by being unique in its appearance, thus drawing attention to itself. It manifests dignity and simplicity while standing as a statuesque reminder of a decades-long building Renaissance in Marceline that saw the erection of several buildings, like the Santa Fe Depot (1913), I.O.O.F. Building (1915), Carnegie Library (1920), and the Masonic Lodge (1923-1924) over a course of a decade. Albert J. Richardson’s design exhibits a form unlike many churches in Missouri. The building’s scale, materials, and organization highlight quality workmanship that went into the façades (despite the later removal of the parapets) and are indicative of a solid architectural unit that creatively used the original 1890 church in its design. The church has remained unaltered for over 100 years and still maintains its original dimensions.
For over 100 years it has been the meeting place for the same Christian denomination and has remained a focus of the city’s spiritual, social, and philanthropic community, allowing all believers in God to attend services and hold gatherings. Furthermore, this building is noteworthy as one of the best and purest examples of Classical Revival architecture in places of worship in northern central rural Missouri. The location, design, size, workmanship, and intact integrity of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Marceline, Linn County, Missouri, are largely retained and clearly demonstrate its unique, local architectural significance.
NO PART OF THIS SITE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT BY THE ORGANIZATION.
CONTACT FOR PERMISSION.
REFERENCES
[1] Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture from 1780: A Guide to the Styles, Revised Edition.
MIT, 1996, p. 167.
[2] “History of the Disciples.” Disciples. https://disciples.org/our-identity/history-of-the-disciples/. Accessed 22
March 2023.
[3] “The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
https://www.fccdoc.org/disciples/. Accessed 20 March 2023.
[4] “History.”
[5] “A Brief History of the Stone-Campbell Tradition.” Disciples of Christ Historic Society.
http://www.discipleshistory.org/history/brief-history-stone-campbell-tradition. Accessed 20 March 2023.
[6] “History”.
[7] “Laid Cornerstone of Christian Church.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 13 Aug 1915 lists the names of the
official founders and notes there were 52 people in attendance at that meeting and also gives a more
complete history of the church’s founding, its members and its pastors.
[8] Marceline: The Magic City: Centennial Edition, Marceline, Missouri. City of Marceline. 1988. This information is
confirmed in “Laid.”
[9] This is in both Marceline: The Magic City: Centennial Edition, Marceline, Missouri and the 13 August 1915
Marceline Herald article.
[10] Marceline: The Magic City: Centennial Edition, Marceline, Missouri.
[11] “Will Build New Church.” The Marceline Herald. 11 December 1914, II.30.
[12] “Considering Plans.” The Marceline Herald. 26 February 1915, II.41.
[13] This fact is well-documented across multiple sources.
[14] “Pleased with Church.” The Marceline Herald. 12 June 1914, II.4.
[15] “Another Church.” The Marceline Herald. 12 August 2015, III.13.
[16] Centennial Edition.
[17] “Richardson Gets Contract.” The Marceline Herald. 30 April 1915, II.50. The Marceline New’s 16 April 1915
article “Home Architect is Recognized” confirms the $9000 original earmarking and the changes made to the original plans.
[18] “Christian Church Building Assured.” The Marceline Herald. 5 February 1915.
[19] “Home Architect is Recognized.” The Marceline Herald. 16 April 1915, II.48.
[20] Ibid. and “Working for New Church.” The Marceline Herald. 22 January 1915, II.36.
[21] The original 1890 church is seen in Figures 4, 5, 7 and 8. It is the rectangular back section of the church marked
“overflow room” on Figures 4 and 7.
[22] “Linn.” The Chariton Courier. 7 May 1915, p. 6.
[23] Richardson had earlier designed and built a similar church in Lancaster, MO that is strikingly similar to the plans
he submitted for the Marceline project. See Figure 17.
[24] “Plans Ready for Christian Church.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 16 April 1915, XXVII.
[25] Ibid.
[26] Ibid.
[27] Ibid.
[28] “Stone Will Be Laid.” The Marceline Herald. 6 Aug. 1915, III.12.
[29] “Will Dedicate New Church on Dec. 19.” The Marceline Journal-Mirror. 22 October 1915, XXVIII.1.
[30] “Linn.” The Chariton Courier. 13 Aug 1915, p. 6.
[31] “Plans Ready for Christian Church.”
[32] “Laid” has the only known mention of a box and its contents placed into the cornerstone.
[33] “Stone Will Be Laid.”
[34] Marceline: The Magic City: Centennial Edition, Marceline, Missouri. City of Marceline. 1988.
[35] No Maker Marks or other identifiable markings have been found describing who made the windows. The church
archives do not contain this information either. The only things known about the windows is they are part of the original plans for the 1915 building and were purchased thanks to donations by those mentioned on plaques under each window.
[36] Ibid.
[37] See Figures 15 AND 16 for a comparison between the church’s original look with the parapets and the current
appearance.
[38] Marceline: The Magic City.
[39] On 8 May 2023, Lex Cavanagh, Chair of the Church’s Board measured the areas listed in the various articles and
confirmed that they are accurate, thus indicating that the church’s historical integrity is identical to the original plans of the building.
[40] Whiffen, Marcus and Koeper, Frederick. American Architecture Volume 1: 1607-1860. MIT Press, Cambridge,
Mass., 1992, p. 81.
[41] Ibid.
[42] Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture from 1780: A Guide to the Styles, Revised Edition. MIT, 1996, p. 167.
[43] McAlester, Virginia. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York City: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984, pp. 435-446.
[44] Taylor, Henry and William H. Bingham. Compendium of History and Biography of Linn County, Missouri.
Chicago, H. Taylor & co., 1912, p. 327.
[45] Compendium, p. 326.
[46] “Home.”
[47] The Magic City.
[48] “Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805-2002.” Ancestry.com. Accessed 2 April 2023.
[49] “Albert J Richardson in the 1910 United States Federal Census.” Ancestry.com. Accessed 2 April 2023.
[50] “Albert J Richardson in the U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.” Ancestry.com. Accessed 2 April 2023.
[51] Dains, Mary K. and Bonnie Stepenoff. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for First Christian Church Columbia, Missouri, September 1991.
[52] Woodcox, Cole. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for First Presbyterian Church
Keytesville, Missouri, May 2017.
[53] Halter, Andrew M. and Roger Maserang. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for Green City
Presbyterian Church in Green City, Missouri, January 2000.
[54] Graf, Keith. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for Camp Ground Church and Cemetery in
Milan, Missouri, October 1974
[55] “Architectural Survey of Marceline (MO.): Final Report.” Marceline Survey. Commissioned by Missouri
Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office. April 2018. Survey No. LI-AS-001-037.
[56] “Anti-Racism Pro-Reconciling Justice Ministries Training”. The Christian Church of Mid-America (Disciples of
Christ) website. https://www.mid-americadisciples.org/antiracism-trainingproreconciling-justice-ministries-training. Accessed 25 March 2023.
[57] “Lincoln School Commencement.” The Marceline Herald. 27 May 1921, VIII.50.
