Leadwood church marks 100 years
By D.HICKMAN\Daily Journal Staff Writer
October 6, 2006

LEADWOOD - William Howard Taft was president. Civil War survivors still placed flowers on the graves of their fallen comrades. The St. Louis World's Fair and Exposition had just closed.

It was 1906 and at that time, Leadwood was known only as a mining camp, somewhere west of Bonne Terre, the center of the lead mining industry. But with the commitment of eight families and the missionary preaching of Rev. George L. Chapman, the First Church of God was born in Leadwood.

As the church prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary this weekend, even the parking lot has been spruced up. A stone erected last week outside the front entrance greets church-goers as they park. It reads, �Rock of Ages, 100 Years of Serving God.�

�I think it speaks to our community about stability,� said Edward Watson, church pastor for 29 years. �We are the third church to celebrate 100 years here - the Methodist and the Baptist have already celebrated that anniversary. It speaks to our faithfulness.�

The church's written history recalls the years from 1926-1946 and how the congregation worked to help Leadwood survive the Great Depression and World War II when the pastor took boys of the church and community to his farm on Courtois River on Mondays to work and fish. The produce from the gardens and the fish were shared with the boys' families. �Brother Carl,� as he was known, and his crew of boys also gathered creek stone and built the ornamental wall and planters that were part of the original church. It was torn down in 1954 and the current building was built at the same site.

Early in the church's history, the Ladies Aid began a quilting ministry that lasted many years. At one point in the �40s, Lucille Forshee taught a Sunday School class where three months of perfect attendance was rewarded with a white Bible. That Bible meant so much to Cleata Momot, she kept it and carried it in her wedding.

Inside the church are mementos of its rich history. There are photographs of children in Sunday School through the years. There's an offering plate from the early services and a commemorative plate from the 75th anniversary. There's a photo of Rev. Harvey E. Brand, a church member who was ordained and who hauled rock with a wagon and team to help build the original church.

The Church of God celebrated already by digging up a time capsule they'd buried at their 75th anniversary in 1981. Inside, they found photos and letters to family members. Those who had letters written to them will receive them during worship services Sunday. Then, after Sunday's service, these members will bury another capsule to be opened in another 25 years. Watson has written letters of his own.

�I don't imagine I'll be here in another 25 years,� he said.

The celebration gets under way with an open house at 10 a.m. Saturday that includes a light brunch to be served until 2 p.m. Afterward, there will be a special service for members to share their memories.

�We have had 31 people from this church go into the ministry and we are very proud of that,� said Watson.

At 9:45 a.m. Sunday, former pastor Charles Sandlin will lead a Sunday School Class and at 10:45 a.m., Charlene Burch who was raised in the church and now serves as a minister, will bring the message. The celebration will make note of the congregation's oldest members, Gladys Coffman and Ethel Bowen, both of whom are in their 90s.

The First Church of God is located at 909 School Street in Leadwood. Those who attend the services will have the chance to purchase mementos of this year's anniversary that includes commemorative plates for $15, hats for $4 and insulated coffee cups for $7.