History of the Church at Crittenden Drive

Below you will find a detailed history of the church dating all the way back to it inception in 1927.

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History

Beginnings:

In the fall of 1927, A.R. Boyles, a member of the Kedron congregation who lived near Russellville, approached the Gospel Advocate office in Nashville, Tennessee with a request for assistance in holding a gospel meeting. R.C. White agreed to come for a ten-day meeting in October. Central Church of Christ provided a small tent, which was pitched on Spring Street in Russellville. Brother White was paid thirty dollars for his efforts. As a result of the meeting, the following people formed the nucleus of the Russellville Church of Christ: Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Boyles, Mrs. Charles Ballard, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Delk, Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Mayton, Miss Nannie Shelton, Mrs. Jeffie Shelton, Mrs. Albert Baggett, Mrs. A.D. Hinton, Miss Lizzie Henson, and Miss Marie Mayton. They were joined on the following Sunday by Mrs. Will McCormick and her mother, Mrs. Mary Harris, who had been attending the Christian Church services.

When Boyles went to Detroit to seek employment, the church persuaded Smiley E. Blake, who attended services at Kedron, to come to Russellville to assist the church in its services. He and Mrs. Donna Blake and their small daughter, Martine, were welcomed into the congregation. About that time, Mrs. Baggett took her small niece, Etta Jo McEndree, into her home to rear, and the two girls were the first two small children in the congregation.

Additionally, Ruth Browning came to live with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Delk. Ruth Browning later married Terry Page and remained a faithful member until her death. In 1930, Mrs. Louise Epley, a new bride, was baptized, and they joined Marie Mayton as the only young people in the congregation.

Moving into Russellville were Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thurmond, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Harris, Mrs. Mackey Scott, mother of Mrs. Harris, and Mrs. Annie Rachel Burchett. Some county residents identified themselves with the congregation, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Pedigo and their seven children still living at home. Mrs. Frances (Granny) Dockins and members of her family who lived with her, Geneva Rudolph and John Dockins, added strength to the congregation. Members of the Tom Lyons family, consisting of several children, were all baptized during the 1930 meeting. In 1931, C.B. Laws came to Russellville to work for an insurance company. He began part-time preaching for the church and filled appointments at nearby rural congregations.

Building:

In 1932, the church rented an apartment on East Third Street and met there for a few months, until a residence on East Fourth Street was purchased. The historical old building had been used as a hospital during the Civil War but returned to a residence following that conflict. The deed to that building was very explicit in defining how and by whom the building was to be used: "The said property purchased by S.E. Blake, N.L. Hendley, and A.R. Boyles, Trustees in trust for the Church of Christ at Russellville, Kentucky, shall be for the exclusive use and benefit of the Church of Christ in the said town of Russellville, Kentucky, for a house of worship. The said congregation recognizes and uses no creed, discipline, doctrine of faith, etc., but the Bible and the Bible alone. They do not recognize the authority of any organization beyond the local elders and deacons. In their work and worship, they reject the use of instrumental music or choirs, using only congregational singing, and all effort of auxiliaries..." (A long list of organizations was given.)

1950, church leaders came to realize that there would soon be a need for a new building in which to worship. A lot on West Seventh Street was purchased, with the intent of erecting a building there. As time passed, it became evident that there would not be sufficient space for adequate parking for a growing congregation. By 1959, the congregation had outgrown the old building and was holding two worship services each Lord's Day morning. Under the tireless efforts of Brown, a large lot on Crittenden Drive was purchased from Ewing Stuart and Ewing Wright. Trustees at that time were N.L. Hendley, J.B. Pedigo, and Owen Burchett.

A building committee was appointed, consisting of Ghan Smith, Sr., Channie Wilson, James C. Turner, John Pedigo, James Starks, and Harold Heaton. Serving as Treasurer was Owen Burchett. Burchett served a total of twenty-seven years, faithfully accounting for all financial transactions.

The men whose duties were to plan and complete a new building spent many hours with architects and contractors. Brown proved to be an astute businessman. Wilson, whose work was less confining than that of other committeemen, spent many hours observing the construction effort and running errands to expedite the work. Bonds were sold in denominations of $50 to $500, the last of which matured in 1973. A modern brick building with adequate classrooms, a nursery, office, and restrooms was erected. The church began meeting in the new building on January 1, 1960, with the dedication of the facility in March of 1960. Willard Collins, then vice-president of David Lipscomb College, gave the dedicatory sermon. When the final bond matured in 1973, both Collins and Brown returned to congratulate the congregation and to see Burchett burn the note.

Elders:

Several men were appointed elders in the 1960s. Among them were Bob Howard, James Stevenson, Don Celsor, Claude Dillihay, G.F. Kluss, and later Sterling Gass and Ghan Smith Sr. In 1973, the church chose Charles Cole, Frank Dockins, Jr., and Kenneth White as elders. In 1986 additional elders were chosen Russell Jones, Glenn McGehee, and Jim Riley were added to the eldership. Two elders were added to the congregation’s leadership in early 2007. Donald “Turtle” Boyles and Rob Sindorf—both former deacons—were added to the eldership, joining Frank Dockins Jr., Kenneth White, Jim Riley, Russell Jones, and Glenn McGehee. In 2021, Elders Russell Jones and Jim Riley retired from their positions, deacons Darrin Peters and Donnie Porter stepped into eldership roles. A list of our current Elders can be found on Our Leadership page.

Deacons:

Dale Baugh and Ronald Hooper, who had served in that capacity for several years. Those appointed were Harris Dockins, Michael Maxwell, Roy Mosier, Jim Turner, and Darrel White. Over the next several years, various other men served as deacons. Among them were James Pulley, Dorris Moore, Charles Cole, John Q. Hite III, Felts Clark, Bill Webb, Clifton Dodson, John W. McCarley, Owen Burchett, Cecil Starks, and Larry Brown. Over the years more deacons were added, including Steve McCarley, Dale Shrull, Rob Sindorf, Donald Boyles, Marlin Coe, Paul Kerr, John Q. Hite, Jr., Millard Lewis, Kelly Yokley, Fred Thompson, Barry Watwood, Larry Wright, Keith Wilson, Tracy Cole, Darrin Peters, Willie Maxwell, Mitch Johnson, Billy Joe Coleman, David Bilyeu, Elmer Jenkins, Brian White, Brian Stratton, Harris Dockins, and Darrell White. The deacons in the fall of 2005 were David Bilyeu, Donald Boyles, Marlin Coe, Tracy Cole, Billy Joe Coleman, Harris Dockins, Ron Hooper, Elmer Jenkins, Mitch Johnson, Willie Maxwell, Darrin Peters, Dale Shrull, Rob Sindorf, Brian Stratton, Brian White, Darrel White, and Keith Wilson. Our current deacons now serving can be found under Our Leadership page.

Ministers:

Ross Embry was the first full-time minister of the church and served for six months in 1946. In 1947, Oaks Gowen began working with the congregation and continued for five very productive years. In those years the church experienced a period of growth and built a more commodious house on West Seventh Street to serve as a residence of the minister and his family. Other men who served the church while it met in the Fourth Street building were Clyde Brannon, Jewell W. Norman, W.C. Sawyer, Jack Hackworth, and Tommy C. Brown. Brown was followed as minister by Barclay Riley, who, after a short tenure, was called to become superintendent of Potter Children's Home and School in Bowling Green. Other ministers who served the church were Carlos Pitts, Glenn Lee, G.L. Mann, Robert Brewer, who left in June of 1969, Edward Anderson, Jim Shannon, who left in December 1979, Steve Blackman from 1980 to 1983, Charles Roney from 1983 to 2001, Dale Graham from 2001 to 2005, Steve Kenney from 2006 to 2007, Andrew Phillips from 2009 to 2011 & 2015 to present now with minister Scott Harp. Get in touch with our current Minister on Our Leadership page.

Youth Ministers:

Todd was the congregation's third full-time youth minister who arrived in last 1995, he served until 2007. The first two, Keith Peterson and Steve Tyree are now active in Bowling Green congregations. Steve Tyree has served in a number of different ministerial positions and is now campus minister of the highly successful Hilltoppers for Christ program at Western Kentucky University. A number of those who have grown up at Crittenden Drive have been active in that program. In fact, that is where Todd Loyd and Josh Givens met their wives. In 2008, Daniel McCarley was hired as a youth minister, and he and his wife Jennifer and daughter Skyler moved to Russellville. His son Trapper was born shortly thereafter then his daughter Anna Reece, he is doing a wonderful job with the youth group. Get in touch with our current Youth Minister on Our Leadership page.

In Conclusion:

Crittenden Drive Church of Christ has been active in programs designed to spread the gospel. Long before the church moved to the new location, a daily radio program was begun. It continued for many years. Among other programs, one of the farthest-reaching endeavors has been the television program, Search the Scriptures, seen each Sunday morning on Channel 13 from Bowling Green. The program began in 1975 and continued until 1984. For two years of that time, an independent station, Channel 17 in Nashville, also showed the program. The time was then used by the “Herald of Truth” which was supported by Crittenden Drive and sister congregations in the area.

Continuing programs during this time included support of missionaries abroad and in the States; support of Potter Home and School; and the Russellville Christian School, brief spots on the local radio aired under the title of Search the Scriptures; a visitation program carried on by teams; the correspondence courses which have been well received; the benevolent center which supplies clothing, food, and furniture to the needy; regular visits to nursing homes; Vacation Bible School with classes for all ages; and two Gospel meetings annually. There are many widows in the church, and a man and his wife of the congregation are appointed to see to the needs of each widow.

The church that met on East Fourth Street and now meets on Crittenden Drive in Russellville, Kentucky has always demanded strict adherence to Apostolic Doctrine. Much credit for the spiritual strength of the church is due not only to the located preachers but to the forceful preaching of visiting evangelists during Gospel meetings. The congregation has been blessed to have some of the strongest defenders of the Truth in the brotherhood.

Crittenden Drive church is blessed with many children and young people who give great promise for a future. Although the church has never contributed to the schools that are church-related and Bible-oriented, each year many of the congregation's college freshmen have elected to attend one of them.

Notable Members:

Lorene Barker, a long-time, faithful member of the church, passed away on December 10, 2002. She commented that Crittenden Drive Church of Christ was her "family." Mrs. Barker did not want any special attention but left her estate of $114,604 to the church.

John Pedigo, the last member of the building committee that constructed the church building on Crittenden Drive, passed away on April 28, 2004. His wife, Evelyn, had died several years before John. They left a major part of their estate in trust to the Crittenden Drive congregation to be used for mission work. At this time the amount of the estate is unknown to the church.

Additionally, Ruth Browning married Terry Page and remained a faithful member until her death on September 4, 1991. Upon her death, she made a generous contribution to the church which allowed the expansion of the church library, now known as the Ruth Page Memorial Library. A plaque with the inscription, "Ruth Page Memorial Library made possible by her love for the Lord," denotes her generosity.

Members Frank Dockins and Douglas Jones were long-time preachers who now worship while listening to others at Crittenden Drive. Others associated with Crittenden Drive who have gone into ministry include Daniel McCarley, who grew up at Crittenden Drive and is now Crittenden Drive’s youth minister. Harris Dockins is the pulpit minister at Bethany in Olmstead. Steve McCarley is the worship leader at Franklin, Kentucky, and Jeff Penick preaches in Tennessee. Glenn McGehee, Danny Williams, and former member James Neely have filled in around the area at smaller churches in times of need. Jeff Penick, who was a teen member, went to the Memphis School of Preaching with the help of the congregation and now preaches full-time. Daniel McCarley, David Bowles, Sam Hartford, and Josh Givens have become youth ministers in training as an outgrowth of the youth program. David Bowles, Brian White, and David Atkins have served as part-time youth ministers and now hold positions of high trust in the community while continuing in worship at Crittenden Drive. Frank Harris Dockins, Sam Hartford, and Josh Givens have also served as youth ministry interns, and Givens interned for the Hilltoppers for Christ.