The congregation first took shape as East End Christian Church on Easter Sunday 84 years ago, 1923. It was a project of the City Board of Missions, a cooperative endeavor of all the Disciple congregations in Memphis. Harris L. Browne, Minister of Decatur Street Christian Church, was the organizing pastor. On May 13, under the leadership of the aged J.B. Briney, former minister of Linden Avenue Christian Church, the people formally organized themselves into a church with 100 charter members.
The congregation rented a 25-year-old frame building on the northeast corner of Cortland Place at Summit Street, formerly occupied by Lenox Methodist Church. They purchased a lot at the corner of Peabody and McLean for $8,400, and a parsonage at 2103 Cowden for $9,000 and called their first resident minister, Rev. W.P. Crouch. Crouch was to arrive the first Sunday in 1924, but at 1:30 on New Year’s Day the church building was found in flames, believed to have been started by fireworks. The new pastor’s first services were held on a bitter cold Sunday in the American Theater on the east side of Cooper, north of Union. Charter Members used to recall the sticky floors and the smell of popcorn during worship.
Saturday, March 29, 1924, 82 years ago, was a day we especially celebrate each year because the fledgling congregation built their famous "One Day Tabernacle." With materials provided by members, the entire congregation erected a frame building on their lot that housed their worship the next day and for several years to come.
On June 30, 1925, Crouch died, ending a brief but aggressive ministry as Central’s first pastor. The daring and courageous J.J. Walker was called and began a ministry of over twenty-two years. Walker spent those years building the congregation and building the buildings. First was a basement sanctuary, then adding upper stories and finally, in 1941, the present sanctuary was completed. In 1940 the name of the congregation was changed to Central Christian Church.
Walker was followed, in 1948, by Leo Pysher. A dynamic and innovative leader, Pysher attracted national attention, and the congregation grew to its largest membership, even surpassing the venerable Linden Avenue Christian Church. In 1952 new wings were added to each side of the sanctuary.
Thomas O. Parish was called as minister in 1954. It was during Parish’s ministry that Central gave birth to Kingsway Christian Church in east Memphis, contributing $30,000 and 100 members.
James D. Sill, who became pastor in 1957, led the congregation in purchasing two building south of the church. And Daniel Neal Cummins, who came in 1960, led the congregation in building the gym, fellowship hall, kitchen, parlor and offices. Robert Everett Smith (1973-1978); Henry Hury (1978-1980); Lane Townsend (1980-1982); and Charles L. Woodall, who has served since 1983, complete the list of ministers who have served.
Though the membership experienced steady decline in numbers since the early 1950s for reasons that include the changing character of Midtown, the proximity of Lindenwood and halting leadership, the congregation has remained strong in program activities and a sense of mission. While other congregations have chosen to make growth the primary concern and have moved to the more fertile neighborhoods to the east, Central has remained committed to Midtown. Twelve years ago, in the spring of 1994, this commitment was symbolized in a campaign of church renewal called "Turn the Light Back On!" The blue neon Celtic cross atop the building, dated from the 1950s, had been darkened and forgotten. On Palm Sunday evening, at a packed service, the revitalized congregation turned the light back on, along with floodlights and other signs of a vigorous, energetic church.
While the membership has continued a gradual decline, the church remains vigorous and energetic. There has been no slackening of the congregation’s sense of mission and service to the community and to all humankind. This sense of mission is demonstrated by it’s ministry to midtown African-American children and youth from an impoverished neighborhood. They have been referred to as "Rachel’s Kids," because of the dedicated ministry of Rachel Coats and Harry Greer. Each Sunday there is an average of fifteen to twenty children and youth at Sunday worship. That commitment to ministry and service has not diminished. We continue with a vigorous faith in the future of the congregation and with a vision of ministry still ahead. This is demonstrated presently by our ambitious 3-year program of congregational renewal, called "Rise. Shine, Central..." Central has had a glorious past. The future is in God’s hand.
