Churches of Columbus and Bartholomew County

[RER]

Re:

These East Columbus Methodist Church pictures are from 1931 and 1947-picnic at Brown County State Park.

The 1931 picture I remember many of those families, but was born much later in the 40s. My grandmother lived on Mapleton (later named Maple) during the 1950s. She was a member of the East Columbus Methodist Church shown on Ohio Street as well as many relatives and family friends. The church was torn down at some point and a new one built on Indiana Avenue, which I was a member.

Anyway, my grandmother always carried her Bible and the glass porcelain Easter Egg shown below to church every Sunday year around. The church always sent me weekly news and letters to all my military addresses for 20 years, until I retired and changed residents. She always felt that every Sunday was Easter in her Spirit. The egg:



My brother and I went to the Ohio Street church several times (very young) during the late 1940s and very early 1950s also.
Grandmother was a deeply committed spiritual lady and loved life and her family. She passed away during my tour during the Vietnam War. I wasn't told about her passing until the burial was complete, because we were very close.

I enlarged the second picture and recognized many family and friends from the 1947s. The picture was taken at the Brown County Shelter House, a common area for annual "Barber Shop" Music and church functions.

I look at the egg everyday displayed in my bedroom area and think of the grand times with a fantastic lady.

Bob

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

I was enrolled in the Cradle Dept of my church shortly after I was born in 1937. The church at that time was located at 625 Franklin Street. While growing up on 5th and California streets with Mom and Dad [ Nellie and Rex McCalip] and my three sisters ; Linda Leanna and Sheila I can remember very distinctly walking to church on Sunday mornings as a family.
As we walked past First Christian Church on 5th street we made a game of seeing who could step on the " Magic Button" and start the chimes to play from their Bell Tower. That has always been one of my fondest memories of walking to church each Sunday morning with my family.
It was in this church that I met and became close friends with a lot of my classmates...Judy Eckles..Betty and Donna Hollenbeck..Nancy Coryell... Myrna Stewart... Sandy and Myron Finchum... Max Joslin..Mareeta Leslie... all three of the Jaggers Donna; Jimmy and Ronnie..Allen Dillman.. Phil Pickens.. and many others.
We had a very active Youth Group and I also enjoyed singing in the Choir during the 50's. I can remember singing with Margie Stearman... Jean Whitehorn ..Tommy Horn.. and Joe Williams serving as our director for many years.
The church moved to 3300 Fairlawn Drive while I was living with my family in Florida. So it was a whole new experience to me when I returned to Columbus.
I continue to be active in the choir..involved with the youth groups and our AWANAS Kid's Club.. and mission opportunities.
I am hoping more people will take the time to enter memories of their church life as they grew up in Columbus.

If you are in need of a church home our doors are always open and we are a very friendly caring congregation.
Sunday Worship Service starts at 9:30 am followed by Sunday school for all ages at 10:45.
Blessings Grandma Margo John 1:16

[richard]

This postcard is of The First Baptist Church which was built in 1855, on the east side of Franklin Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. A new front was added to the building in 1886. This card was circa 1910.



Scan Courtesy of Mr. Norman Ryle Posted for Margo

[richard]

This is a later postcard is of The First Baptist Church which was built in 1855. A new front was added on 1886. This Church was located on the east side of Franklin Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. This card was circa 1920.



Scan Courtesy of Mr. Norman Ryle Posted for Margo

[richard]

The current First Baptist Church is located at 3300 Fairlawn Drive in Columbus, Indiana. It was built in 1965 and Harry Weese was the Architect.



Scan Courtesy of Mr. Norman Ryle Posted for Margo

[Margo CHS Class of 55]

Thank you Richard for helping my friend Norm Ryle post these pictures of First Baptist Church when it was located at 625 Franklin Street.
If you look closely you will see the stained glass windows that were a prominent feature in this wonderful building filled with many blessed memories for me.

I so enjoyed as a youngster watching the sun light beaming through them while sitting on those hard pews listening to the pastor who seemed to drone on and on...

Who hasn't as a child thought this during church services during their younger years ?

Now I as an adult seem to think the time passes too quickly during the Worship Service !! It is truly amazing how our perspectives change as we mature.

Many of the stained glass windows were carefully removed and are now are part of the church windows at our current location at 3300 Fairlawn Drive.

Will post more later on the rich history of this church.

I know it is featured on some of the Visitor Center's Bus tours.

It delights my heart that so many people I have chatted with [while I was present when a tour came through ] have expressed their appreciation of it's reverent atmosphere. It truly feels like a house of God and I meet Him anew there each Sunday morning.

And yet we all know that it is just a building. The church is comprised of the wonderful compassionate members who gather here each Sunday morning and throughout the week.

If you are in need of a church home; our doors are open to all and we are a very friendly caring congregation.

Sunday Worship Service starts at 9:30 am followed by Sunday school for all ages at 10:45. Grandma Margo ~ John 1:16

[thelma]

Does anyone know why there are so many Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches in Columbus?

[nancs]

Welcome aboard, Thelma,

And I surely cannot answer that question. However, in April 2007, when my eldest daughter joined me to attend the Historic Columbus celebration.........................she was just amazed at the number of churches, of many denominations, that were literally all over town--------------small ones, plus all the big churches that we are all familiar with. You would see these small churches almost everywhere one went.

Nanc

[TEXACO]

richard said:

This postcard is of The First Baptist Church which was built in 1855, on the east side of Franklin Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. A new front was added to the building in 1886. This card was circa 1910.



Scan Courtesy of Mr. Norman Ryle Posted for Margo

Nope. Somebody got their wires crossed. That's the old First Lutheran Church (originally known as First English Lutheran Church) on 11th Street.

[TEXACO]

richard said:

This is a later postcard is of The First Baptist Church which was built in 1855. A new front was added on 1886. This Church was located on the east side of Franklin Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. This card was circa 1920.



Scan Courtesy of Mr. Norman Ryle Posted for Margo

There ya' go. That was the old First Baptist Church. I remember going to Cub Scout functions in the basement back in the '50's.

[TEXACO]

thelma said:

Does anyone know why there are so many Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches in Columbus?

Because God is just!

[Ricky_Berkey]

texaco said:

richard said:

This postcard is of The First Baptist Church which was built in 1855, on the east side of Franklin Street between Sixth and Seventh Streets. A new front was added to the building in 1886. This card was circa 1910.



Scan Courtesy of Mr. Norman Ryle Posted for Margo

Nope. Somebody got their wires crossed. That's the old First Lutheran Church (originally known as First English Lutheran Church) on 11th Street.

Are you sure? I think that it is correctly identified as the First Baptist church, just a different view than the other picture that was posted.

[Deleted]

This picture is in the 1898 GAR book.

[Deleted]

This information is with the church picture in the 1898 GAR book.

[Deleted]

The English Lutheran Church at 11th and Chestnut St. The church was dedicated October 1895. Information from the 1898 GAR book.

[RER]

George, you got it right...............I think Texaco is not on the right track on this one...........good job George.............your Friend from the South. I have the same pictures from different angles.........

[TEXACO]

rer said:

George, you got it right...............I think Texaco is not on the right track on this one...........good job George.............your Friend from the South. I have the same pictures from different angles.........

Easy enough argument to settle. Print a copy of the picture and compare it to the church. It's still there.

[RER]

For $19.99 plus tax the old churches of Columbus can be seen and compared. Addtionally, George's GAR Book show the same views of different years. Anyone interested can buy the current book (that matches GAR) at the Columbus Reception Center on 5th and Franklin. The name of the book is "Columbus Indiana In Vintage Postcards." by Tamara Stone Iorio.

[Deleted]

This is a 1898 picture looking south from 11th and Chestnut St. The front of the English Lutheran Church can be seen on the south east corner, the church building is still there today.
Note the John S. Crump street railway tracks in the picture.

[Babs]

If anyone is interested in Tamara Iorio's book, it is also available at our local Walgreens. I spotted it just a couple of days ago as I was checking out. Price is $19.99, same price she charges but if you get it directly from her, as I did at our first annual Historic Columbus Indiana event, she signs it. ;D