The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) building at 310 N. Market St. has served as a landmark for well over a hundred and thirty years. In its early days the bell tower up front could be seen from blocks away. Many of Marion’s families both blue and white collar have worshipped here including Mr. and Mrs. George Goodall, builder of the Goodall Hotel. His wife, Althea Hundley, was the leader of the choir of the church and very active as well as many other families names like Stotlar, Miller, Hestand, Cavaness and our own multi term mayor Robert Butler.

The home of Elijah N. Spiller, founder of Spillertown, was the meeting place in 1841 for the devout group who organized the first church of the Christian denomination in the county. Mrs. Joab Goodall rode horse back to meetings from her home southeast of Marion. The church in Marion was organized in 1865 by the Rev. H. T. Banta and Rev. A. T. Benson.

 In 1874, it was decided to build a house of worship. In 1875, after the walls were erected from bricks made at a local brick plant, a heavy windstorm destroyed them. The congregation rallied, the building was completed and dedicated before the end of year. The loss from the storm entailed a debt that hung over the church for ten years.

With varying periods of prosperity and seeming adversity, the congregation worshipped in this building until it became clear that a modern building was absolutely necessary. In 1914, a new building was erected on the same site on North Market Street. On August 4th of that year, fire threatened the church when a large livery stable belonging to George Heyde in the alley behind the church burned down, fortunately with no damage to the church.

Fire again threatened the church on November 11, 1925 when the Marion Opera House across the side street at 400 N. Market was destroyed by fire. The church escaped once more with little damage.

Then, in 1927, a fire suspected as starting in the motor of the pipe organ set the building ablaze and destroyed the interior of the building but spared the walls and the beautiful stained-glass windows. The only other things partially recovered were some of the library and papers in the study belonging to the pastor Rev. H.O. Wilson. The building estimated at $75,000 was a total loss. The congregation was forced to worship in the Orpheum Theater (before the days of Sunday movies) for almost a year.

After rebuilding, the new building without its landmark bell tower, was dedicated March 25, 1928. In 1981, under the leadership of the Rev. Ronald Sanders the church celebrated its 140th anniversary. A dedicatory statement after the fire said, “This church has faithfully met its every obligation to its members and to the community, and now stands ready and willing to maintain its record.”

In August 1991, Stephen Elwood Bridwell became pastor, and Renee Bridwell became associate pastor.

By 2020, a diminishing congregation in conjunction with the appearance of the CoVid 19 pandemic and the transfer of pastor Bill Rucker eventually spelled doom for the old Marion church which was forced to close its doors in the fall of 2020. 

A good use for the historic building was envisioned and in September 2021, Market Street Music Conservatory officially became a 501c3 nonprofit organization that allows the building to have new life in the form of musical concerts, recitals, and instrument training.

Note: This building is referenced in Historical Architecture of Marion

Back to the top

 (Photos from 1905 Souvenir Book, WCHS; postcards, Williamson County Historical Society. The original article was written by Mrs. Mary A. Kaeser and printed in the 1989 Sesquicentennial History book, revised by Sam Lattuca on 01/05/2013 and again on October 11, 2023)