union avenue christian church |
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A Growing Church Dr. Philputt added an “assistant” early in his pastorate at Union Avenue. Irving S. Chenoweth, a fresh graduate of Eureka College, came on board to assist Dr. Philputt in the pastoral work of the church. Of the young Mr. Chenoweth, Dr. Philputt said, “he was a young man of rare gifts and capacities and to his winning personality added a rugged constitution.” During these early years, the congregation began to grow and, more importantly, began to “‘find itself,’ to achieve its unity, and before many months the old cleavages were swallowed up in enthusiastic loyalty to the new church,” Dr. Philputt proudly reported. After two years of steady growth while worshipping in the chapel, the leaders of the congregation decided that the time had come for work to begin on a larger space in which to worship. “The contracts were accordingly let, and for it I turned the first sod on March 4, 1907; and on May 1, 1907, in the presence of a large concourse of church people and friends and with appropriate ceremonies I laid the cornerstone of the main building,” wrote Dr. Philputt. Dedication day followed on April 12, 1908, with three “great” services. “Every evening of the week following Dedication Day we had services, lectures by eminent men, and one evening an interdenominational service when the pastors and congregations from neighboring churches came in with their felicitations,” Dr. Philputt wrote. Total cost for the construction of the “new plant” was approximately $250,000. And in a moment of prideful boasting, Dr. Philputt wrote that it “is one of the most beautiful churches in St. Louis and in our Brotherhood. No less able a body of men could have carried the financial burdens during this trying period of the church’s history and in the years to follow, and brought it out into a place of tranquility and security. The wisdom of uniting the two churches was now apparent to everyone.” more Sunday morning worship @ 10:45 a.m. • Christian Education for all ages @ 9:30 a.m. |
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