One Township's Yesterdays Chapter LI  

The Christian Church

THOMPSON, the historian, speaks of "the church of the Christian Connection, commonly known as New Lights," which was among the first to be found represented in the Union Township area. Rev. ISAAC REED, Presbyterian missionary to Indiana, reported, in March, indiana_map_1827, many societies of the New Lights among the Indiana religions of that period. The New Lights church was very early here; it was in evidence in the Maxinkuckee region practically from the first of the settlements, in 1836. The historian THOMPSON tells of New Lights services as having been among the first religious services in the township.

In later years, the Christian Church, so called, was developed. There was a congregation formed at Maxinkuckee, on the east side of the lake. The church was known as the Maxinkuckee Christian Church. This church has continued for many years One reads in newspaper files of the time of preaching services at Maxinkuckee every Saturday evening by Reverend Shepherd; that was in the autumn of 1905. And in the autumn of 1935, one reads of the coming of Rev. AMOS BARNES as the new minister at Maxinkuckee.

In mid-December, 1905, the Culver newspaper editor "was informed that the HENRY HAAG property in the north part of town had been bought by the people of the Christian Church and the dwelling would be rebuilt and used for a church." The information was correct. About a week later the Reverend SHEPHERD of Plymouth came to Culver for a few days looking after the interests of the new Christian church building. And special dedication services were held at the Culver Christian Church Sunday afternoon, December 31, 1905. The organizers of the Culver church did not let any grass grow under their feet (notwithstanding the lateness of the season.)

The Christian Church was in a frame building on Lake Street, a short distance north of Lake Shore Drive. The building is still there, on the west side of the street, having been converted back to a dwelling. The congregation has dispersed. Families represented as members of the Christian congregation included HAND, BUSWELL, MARKS. RIGGENS, and FERRIER.

HENRY HAAG first had the building as a residence. He also had a tin shop there, and the building was of the same proportions as today. The property was bought from the HAAG family. Also, a vacant lot adjoining (to which in late years the old Gandy house was moved ) was obtained from W. E. HAND. The funds for the purchase of the church property was raised by subscription in 1906. The property was not deeded by gift. The congregation expected to build a better edifice later, but the plan fell through. The property was deeded to the congregation, and when the congregation gave up the idea of continuing the church, it was sold back into private hands and the building rebuilt into a house.

WALTER HAND lived in the house at one time. His son, Merwyn, was born there.

WILLIAM RIGGENS was the second superintendent of the Sunday school of the Christian Church. In July, 1906, the Reverend SHEPHERD, so one reads in church news of that year, delivered a discourse at the Christian Church in Culver. The writer has no further account of the church history, no further reference to preachers who preached here, therefore must close this brief chapter, hoping that some other writer, more fully informed, may take up the story where this leaves off.