The Church at Vanleer
In 1904, a small group of members of the Church of Christ selected and purchased a small tract of land approximately one-half acre from B.G. Hunter and wife for the sum of $15. This small tract, shaded by tall and stately oak trees on the southern edge of the town of Vanleer was to be the building site of the present Church of Christ. The building was a tiny rectangular structure typical of the village churches of that day. At this time, the congregation was served by elders John Taylor, W.R. Houston, and George York whose names appear on the deed.
There was an interval in the 1920's when the congregation became so small that services were abandoned. But in the early 1930's when Bro. A.J. Buchan was the minister of Walnut Church in Dickson conducted a meeting here. Under his leadership and with his own hands, the building was repaired and the work of the church was resumed. From this point, membership increased and economic conditions improved resulting in the need for more room.
The first extension of the land area come in 1936 with the removal of the L & N Railroad which lay to the west of the building. This land was acquired at a very small cost. About this same time, work was begun to extend the length of the auditorium westward, build two classrooms, a baptistry, dressing rooms and the entire building was bricked.
In 1967, the area of the D.T. Jackson property on the south side of the building became available, thus doubling the original area. This transaction was followed by the purchase of a lot on the north side, which was paved from parking. As the result of steady growth in membership, two additional classrooms, rest rooms, and a fellowship room were erected.
A final transaction occurred when we purchased the adjoining Trotter residence which became a home for our first full time minister. This brief history extending over a period of 80 years represents the result of the efforts of a group of dedicated people who knew what they wanted and with God's help, were wiling to work and achieve that goal. We seek to do the same thing even today!
There was an interval in the 1920's when the congregation became so small that services were abandoned. But in the early 1930's when Bro. A.J. Buchan was the minister of Walnut Church in Dickson conducted a meeting here. Under his leadership and with his own hands, the building was repaired and the work of the church was resumed. From this point, membership increased and economic conditions improved resulting in the need for more room.
The first extension of the land area come in 1936 with the removal of the L & N Railroad which lay to the west of the building. This land was acquired at a very small cost. About this same time, work was begun to extend the length of the auditorium westward, build two classrooms, a baptistry, dressing rooms and the entire building was bricked.
In 1967, the area of the D.T. Jackson property on the south side of the building became available, thus doubling the original area. This transaction was followed by the purchase of a lot on the north side, which was paved from parking. As the result of steady growth in membership, two additional classrooms, rest rooms, and a fellowship room were erected.
A final transaction occurred when we purchased the adjoining Trotter residence which became a home for our first full time minister. This brief history extending over a period of 80 years represents the result of the efforts of a group of dedicated people who knew what they wanted and with God's help, were wiling to work and achieve that goal. We seek to do the same thing even today!