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Hamilton Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
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Our Denomination and History

Who are the Christian Church—Disciples of Christ?   The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination grew out of the religious turmoil within the United States in the early 1800’s. Thomas Campbell, a Presbyterian minister and teacher from Ireland, came to the U.S. in 1807 to escape the suppressing policies of the European churches and found similar problems here. After a series of frustrating encounters with the executives of the Presbyterian Church, Campbell eventually formed a more tolerant and inclusive segment of the Protestant Church which is now the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This denomination focuses on scripture, communion, the Lord’s Prayer, and baptism by immersion. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is the largest religious body of American origin.

Hamilton's History-  In the early 1890's several families of St. Louis Christian Churches built homes in the new Rose Hill area of St. Louis, Missouri. Othniel Aid Bartholomew, pastor of Mount Cabanne Church, saw the need to establish a Christian Church in this new section of the city and in 1895 he purchased property at the southwest corner of Plymouth and Hamilton Avenue.

On the corner lot he built a stone chapel of ten rooms, four for Bible School use and six for the minister's residence. On the Hamilton Avenue lot, he built a seventeen room double brick house and on the Plymouth Avenue lot, an all stone residence of ten rooms to guarantee good surroundings and also to earn income for the church. He and his wife Carrie financed the entire $10,500 project.

On June 2, 1895, six men of the community met in Bartholomew's home to organize the West End Christian Church with 28 charter members. While pastor of Mount Cabanne Church, Rev. Bartholomew also led the Gilead Mission which was absorbed into the new West End Church. In 1898, the Bartholomews deeded the property to the church.  Because of confusion with another West End group, on May 31, 1903, the congregation voted to change the name to Hamilton Avenue Christian Church.

The growth of the congregation during 1904-1905 and the fact that the St. Louis street car system had been extended so lines crossed at the corner with the resulting constant traffic noise disturbing services, indicated a need for relocation.  Member Robert L. Stockton bought the lot at the northeast corner of Hamilton and Julian Avenues, just one block north of the original site, and presented the deed to the congregation as a gift toward a new church. The erection of an edifice was accomplished through generous financial subscriptions from the members.

In 1911, a pipe organ, originally built in 1904, was purchased. Chimes were added when it was refurbished in 1941. When the congregation moved to the present Creve Coeur site in St. Louis County, the organ was completely reconditioned and installed in the new sanctuary.

In the early days of Hamilton Avenue Christian Church, the Ladies Guild was charged $12 a year for using the building. The women led the way in supporting mission causes at home and abroad. Today, outreach causes are still a priority at Hamilton. Education was important, and in 1922 Hamilton Avenue Church created a $25,000 educational foundation endowment fund with gifts of $20,000 from R.L. Stockton and $5,000 from T.H. Henry. Hamilton's Endowment Fund continues to receive generous gifts today.

In 1960, after the realization that there seemed no possibility of remaining to serve the changing community adequately and much soul-searching and prayer, the church voted to relocate to the suburbs. All the property at  Hamilton and Julian and the Oakherst parsonage, was sold to St. Paul A.M.E. Church. Soon after relocating the congregation to Creve Coeur, the members dropped the "Avenue" in the name of the church, but it was not officially eliminated until the mid 1980's.

Hamilton Christian Church celebrated twenty-five years at the present location in June of 1993. The 1995 centennial year included festive events and special projects.

In grateful response to the sacrifice and faithfulness of all the people who have contributed to Hamilton Christian Church, the congregation looks forward to the future by giving faithful expression to its mission statement:

"Growing in Faith to Love and Serve"

 

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