As a New Testament people, the Christians who make up The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are exceedingly diverse, but first of all we are a people of God. Our unity comes from Christ; thus, our continuing witness is to the unity of Christ's body on earth and to the ministry of the gospel of the God who is love.
Within this tradition, Memorial Christian Church is the outgrowth of many years of planning and dreaming which came true in 1948. The Lynchburg Layman's Club, organized in 1945, adopted the establishment of a new church in the Fort Hill area as a project, but they were unable to complete their vision. However, four Christian laymen in 1948 purchased four and one-half acres of land on Perrymont Avenue and conveyed it for the purpose of developing a new congregation. Those four sponsors were C. L. Snidow, Sr. of First Christian Church, Walter G. Mason of Fairview Christian Church and Louis F. Almond and Terrill Megginson of Euclid Christian Church.
Memorial Christan Church was founded in 1949. At a meeting of interested persons on November 10, 1948, Reverend Clarence E. Smoot, pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church and a Timothy of Fairview Christian Church, was called as founding minister. On December 5, 1948 at an organizational meeting, Reverend Joseph T. Watson, retired minister of Euclid Christian Church, accepted the call to assist in visitation evangelism and served as assistant pastor until December 31, 1951. On December 15, 1948 in a mass meeting at the Fort Hill Club, fifty persons signed up to become charter members and the church was officially organized on that date.
Thus, Memorial Christian Church became the first new Disciples of Christ church in Lynchburg to be organized in about fifty years. The first service of worship was held on January 1, 1949 at the Fort Hill School, and by Easter the charter list was closed with eighty-nine persons. Of this number, seven are still actively involved in the life of the church today.
Plans were immediately made for the construction of a new building. Ground was broken on May 22, 1949, the cornerstone was laid on April 7, 1950 and the first worship service was held in the basement assembly room on September 3, 1950. The building was completed and dedication made on October 28, 1951. Reverend Smoot continued as minister until June of 1952.
Reverend Ramon Redford, pastor of Belmont Christian Church in Roanoke, Virginia, was called as minister on September 15, 1952 and led the church in spectacular growth. Church membership was 208 when he came and grew to 567 in July 1967. During his ministry the educational building was constructed at a cost of $150,000.00. Dedication of this unit was held on January 1, 1966. Nineteen classrooms and additional rooms which were first used on May 16, 1965 were available for the growing congregation. Reverend Redford retired in July of 1967 and was elected Minister Emeritus in December 1970. Reverend Redford continued to serve the church until his death on January 2, 1991.
On January 3, 1999, Memorial Christian Church celebrated its 50th Anniversary Reception. Now in its 60th year, Memorial Christian Church continues to seek innovative ways to minister to the fast-paced and ever-changing community and world.
Past and Present Ministers of Memorial Christian Church:
Reverend Clarence E. Smoot, Minister
Reverend Joseph T. Watson, Assistant Pastor
Reverend Ramon Redford, Minister
Reverend Charles Hill, Minister
Reverend H. W. "Buddy" Westbrook, Minister
Reverend Barry Franklin, Associate Minister
Reverend Elaine Wilson, Minister of Education
Reverend Don Gardner, Interim Minister
Reverend Carlton E. Best, Minister
Reverend L. Carlton Lyon, Interim Minister
Reverend Virgil R. Knipp, Minister
Reverend L. Carlton Lyon, Minister of Membership
Reverend Ronald W. Smith, Interim Minister
Reverend David Lee Curtis, Minister
Reverend Mary A. Kearns, Supply Minister and Family Life Minister
Reverend John H. Kinnard, Minister
Reverend Jim Compton, Interim Minister
Reverends Virgil and Sue Knipp, Unit Ministry Team (Presently Serving)
