The History of Oak Bowery church of Christ

This page is still being developed. As additional documents and photos are obtained, they will be incorporated into this history in an appropriate manner.

The original building was built in the 1870's. It was about one mile south of the present building near the home of Bill Ed Wood. It was called "Old Thickle" which was most likely a misspelling of "Old Thistle" which would seem to be more in keeping with the prickly plants common to the Briar Hill area of Pike County. For some reason, the congregation at Old Thistle moved about a half of a mile south and another building was constructed. This,the second building, burned in 1880. The third building constructed in 1881, was located on, or very near, the present location of the Oak Bowery congregation.

The land was donated by Mrs. M. I. Motes, grandmother of Will Griffin. The name was changed from Old Thistle to Oak Bowery. The term "oak bowery" means and oak covered valley. Actually, the present location is in a depression between a hill to the south near Sanders Cemetery and the hill to the north beyond Belser cemetery from which one traveling north on the present county road can see into to Montgomery County.

The first preacher of record was Elbert Huffman in 1888. The building doubled as a schoolhouse for the first through the ninth grades. No records have been discovered which tell how long this arrangement continued. The school did not have bible classes for the students.

In the early 1900's the third building was torn down and a larger one built. This then was the second building to house the Oak Bowery congregation. Apparently, this second and larger building did not look very sturdy. Claude Rhodes came to hold a meeting in the early 1940's and told the congregation that he was afraid the building might fall down. During his Sunday morning sermon, the back right corner collapsed. It is thought that this happened in 1941. The building was torn down shortly thereafter.

Between the time the building fell down and the third Oak Bowery building was built, the congregation met under the oak trees on the property for about three years. The third building was started with $1800 and this got the walls up. Some of the heart pine ceiling joist from the previous building were reused in this building. The building was completed between 1944 and 1945. It was the meeting place for the Oak Bowery church of Christ for the next 44 years.

On the second Sunday evening in June of 1982, Robert G. Allen Jr. was asked to fill in after the departure of Beryl Bodenham. This was the first time he had been to Oak Bowery. He was asked to return the following Sunday evening, and the next, and the next. He was asked to become the full time preacher for the congregation. He accepted and he began in an "official" capacity the first Sunday in July. His first sermon was on "Prayer".

In the early spring of 1988, Oak Bowery laid the foundation for the new auditorium, five new classrooms and a nursery. On Sunday December 11, 1988, Oak Bowery met to worship in these new facilities for the first time.

This fourth building was attached to the third building. A long eating shed ran from the back of the old building northward to about where the new auditoriom began. The property line was fenced and very close (not more than 10 feet, maybe) to the eating shed. The fence can be see in the picture to the right that was painted by Mary Page. The congregation wanted to have a place for children to play behind the new building that was being constructed. Harry and Mary Page owned the property behind and west of the church property. They donated what is now the playground to the church.

The playground equipment came from an old school somewhere. Robert Allen and Newton Rials helped in relocating the swings and the other equipment. Robert Allen remembers helping Newton swing sledgehammers "forEVER" breaking the concrete off the bottom of the legs of the swingset after it had been dug up.

The oak trees planted around the fence in the back were planted by each family worshipping at Oak Bowery at that time. They were planted one Sunday afternoon after eating lunch after worship to celebrate paying off the bank note for the building.

In the early part of 2001, the possibility of adding another building behind the existing buildings was discussed. The purpose of this new space was to have an enclosed area large enough to accomodate enough tables and chairs to take care of the large numbers of people at special events and particularly at the homecoming each first Sunday in August. Several plans were put forth. It soon became apparent that the congregation wanted to keep the 1940's structure and enlarge it and renovate it. A plan was drawn up by Bud Harris which doubled the length of the old auditorium, created a new kitchen out of the existing classroom, added a carport to the new kitchen and created a combination library and classroom between the old building and the new auditorium built in 1988.

In the spring of 2001, Earl Smith was hired to carry out this project. The new facility was completed just in time for the homecoming on the first Sunday in August.

This was a bittersweet time for the Oak Bowery congregation. There was excitement about the building changes taking place. There was sadness because of Robert Allen's decision to leave Oak Bowery. His last sermon was at the evening service on the last Sunday in May, 2001. His last sermon was on "Prayer" as was his first sermon in July of 1982.

Record of Elders

1899: Robert Henderson, James Miles, W. E. H. Pedigo
1924: Joe F. Sewell, J. J. Redmon
1938: Levie S. Sanders, J. Marshall Redmon, Eddie D. Russell
1940: Eddie D. Russell, Wiley Redmon
1947: Wiley Redmon, Eddie D. Russell, J. Marshall Redmon
1960: Eddie D. Russell, John Frank Sanders
1985: Wade Furr, Newton Rials, Jerry Sanders
1987: Wade Furr, Newton Rials, Jerry Sanders, Wyman Sanders
1988: Newton Rials, Jerry Sanders, Wyman Sanders
1999: Robert G. Allen Sr., Newton Rials, Jerry Sanders, Wyman Sanders
2002: George Harris, Newton Rials, Jerry Sanders, Wyman Sanders

Record of Ministers Who Came On A Regular Basis