FOUNDERS OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE STATE

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          FOUNDERS OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE STATE
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Founders of the First Christian Church in the State (newspaper clipping)
Stephen Strickland founded the First Christian church in the state at what
is now the town of West Fork or near there, at Dye's School House about 
1844.  These were the members of the new church: Stephen Strickland and 
wife; Dick Dye, Eli Bloyd, and wife, C. C. Gilbreath and wife, Joshua Brown 
and wife, James Winn and wife, Ralph Skelton and wife, Greene W. Sherry 
and wife, Levi Combs and wife, Jas Combs and wife, David E. Robinson and 
wife, Jackson Robinson, Peter Bloyd and wife, William Bloyd and wife, 
Joseph Miller and wife, S. Stelle and wife, John Connor and wife, Geo. A.
Pettigrew and wife, John Alexander and wife, Johnethan Osburn and wife, 
Mrs. Sallie Arrington and Joseph Lewis.  In all there were about 50 members.
Later on, others were added to the church.  Alfred M. Arrington and 
Stephen Strickland entered into a public debate on the difference of the 
doctrine of the Primitive Baptist and that of the Christian church as
taught by Alexander Campbell, Arrington defending the Campbell doctrine 
and Strickland the Baptist.  It resulted in the defeat of Strickland and 
the loss of himself and about 50 members to the Baptist church.
					By Cal. Sherry and A. B. Lewis.

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