First Christian is blessed to claim generations of people who have come before and followed God’s vision and call for this church. A 160-plus year legacy in Fayetteville comes with a responsibility that inspires us to continually move into the future and to  seek direction on ways to engage our minds, grow our hearts and use our hands in God’s world.

First Christian Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas was born in the winter of 1848 from a 12-day tent meeting, founded by two pastors, 25-year old Robert Graham and 60-year old John T. Johnson. A few years later, Graham founded Arkansas College on grounds where the church now stands. The college buildings were destroyed by fire in December of 1862 during the Civil War Battle of Fayetteville. Fire also destroyed the original church, located on the downtown square, and after the war, a new church was built at the location where the school once stood.

Another fire in 1912, caused by a faulty coal furnace, destroyed the new church, and it was time to rebuild, once again. On May 24, 1914, a dedication service was held for the First Christian Church in which we still worship today.

A complete history, “Fayetteville First Christian Church: Historical Notes from the First 160 Years,” is available at the Fayetteville Public Library and in the Mullin’s Library at the University of Arkansas.

1909 sunday school

Arkansas college