In October 1903 the first steps were taken to establish a Christian Church in Demopolis when Mrs. T.M. Culpepper and little daughter Ocea Mae and infant son T.M. Culpepper, Jr. met with Dr. and Mrs. J.G. Chisholm and daughters Orrie, Mary Eleanor, and Jennis and son Alvis and Arthur in the Chisholm home.
Dr. Chisholm was elected superintendent of Sunday School and Mrs. Culpepper was elected secretary and treasurer.
The following Sunday, Mr. & Mrs. L.W. Spalding and daughter Azalca and sons Chad and Way Lewis, joined the two other families. Sunday School and communion services were held regularly in the homes.
In January 1904 State Evangelist S.P. Speigal came to Demopolis and preached several sermons at the Baptist Church which was loaned to the group. Miss Orris Chisholm joined the church and was baptized.
In April of the same year Evangelist Speigal and J.C. Caldwell, pastor of the First Christian Church in Selma, held a series of meetings for the group in the City Hall. There were several additions at this time. Sunday School and communion were held in the City Hall for quite some time.
Visiting ministers held services at intervals. S.M. Baker of the First Christian Church of Meridian, Mississippi, held a series of services in the City Hall. Several of the families moved later and services were discontinued.
Early in 1914 Mr. R.B. Young and family moved to Demopolis from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1914 the Sunday School reorganized in the home of Mr. Mrs. R.B. Young. Mr. Young was elected superintendent with Mrs. Culpepper as secretary and Mrs. Chisholm as Treasurer. There were 11 people present.
A hall under Braswell Theater was rented and services were held there regularly for a year or more, than a hall over Merchants Grocery Store was used until the new church was build in 1927.
in September 1914 J.A. Lee of Plantersville, Alabama was called to preach one Sunday in each month which he did until his health failed in 1954, with the exception of two years when Demopolis and Eutaw formed a unit for a minister to preach twice each month. Mr. Tyndale and Mr. D.M. Walker served. This unit was discontinued after two years. Mr. Lee came back and served until May 1954.
The new church sanctuary on the corner of North Walnut and Lyon Street was dedicated July 17, 1927 with Dr. W.A Allen of Selma assisting Mr. Lee in the dedicatory services and the choir of the First Christian Church of Selma assisting with the music. In November of 1954 the educational unit was added to the building.
The membership varied through the years. In 1955 there were 60 members; in 1967 the membership rose to 80.
Claude A. Shumate of Reidsville, North Carolina was called as the first full-time minister in May of 1954. He began his ministry in June 1954 and served until December 1956.
Charles T. Myhand from Belforrest, Alabama was called as the full-time minister in April 1960 and served until February 1961.
Thomas Hale from Panama City Beach, Florida was called as the full-time minister in August 1963 and served until Feb 1964.
William Bagby from Fairhope, AL was called as the full-time minister in June 1964. He came tot he church after graduating from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, TN. He resigned in 1971 to accept the call to be the Pastor at the First Christian Church in Jasper, AL.
David A. Wilson from Atlanta, Georgia was called as minister in August 1972. He came to the church after graduating from Atlanta Christian College. He resigned in 1975.
An addition to the present structure was begun in 1972 consisting of a Fellowship Hall, two Sunday School rooms, a kitchen, two baths and a choir robe closet. The slab, outside walls and roof were contracted and the rest of the work was completed by the men of the church under the direction of Jerry Wall. It was finished in 1973.
Cecil K. Buffalow became the minister in 1975, coming from Atlanta Christian College. He resigned in January 1981.
On October 2, 1978 the church had a note-burning service during the morning worship service in celebration of paying off the debt on the educational wing in half the time required.
Jim Bliffen was called as minister in May 1981. He was a graduate of Kentucky Christian College. He was serving on staff at Mid-South Christian College before coming to Demopolis. He resigned in 1988 to minister at the Southeast Christian Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Jim is now working as the Senior Minister at the Christian Church in Huntsville, AL.
Jim Joiner was called as minister and arrived for Easter Sunday 1989. He came from a youth ministry in Stone Mountain, Georgia and was a graduate of Florida Christian College. He resigned to go to a church in Durham, North Carolina in July 1990
Murray Strange was called to serve as minister of the congregation in September 1990. He came a ministry in Cartersville, Georgia. He resigned in June of 1992 to retire to Florida.
Allen Noble was called in August 1992 from a youth ministry in Texas. He decided to leave the ministry and became a truck driver and left in July of 1994.
Criag Hughes was called to minister in October 1994 and he resigned in March 1995 to go to Kentucky.
Mike McGinnis was called as the minister in July 1995 but could not come until October because of his wife, Jennifer was expecting their second child. He began his ministry in October of 1995 and resigned in February of 1999 to begin working with a fast-growing church in Kentucky.
Rick Messer was called as the minister in August of 1999 and he resigned in Feb of 2000.
Josh Head was called as the minister in May of 2001, they came from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tennessee. Josh resigned in 2004 to take the position as the minister at the First Christian Church in Decator, Alabama.
In February of 2005 Marshall Murphy was called as the Minister. Prior to coming to Demopolis, Marshall was working on his Masters Degree at Louisville Bible College in Louisville, KY.
Ministers at First Christian Church
J.A. Lee (1914-1954)
Claude Shumate (1954-1956)
Charles Myhand (1957-1959/1961-1963)
C.H. Stewart (1960-1961)
Tom Hale (1963-1964)
Bill Bagby (1964-1971)
David Wilson (1972-1975)
Cecil Buffalow (1975-1981)
Jim Bliffen (1981-1988)
Jim Joiner (1989-1990)
Murray Strange (1990-1992)
Allen Noble (1992-1994)
Craig Hughes (1994-1995)
Mike McGinnis (1995-1999)
Rick Messer (1999-2000)
Josh Head (2001-2004)
Marshall Murphy (2005-Present)
