In 1827, Walter Scott, a great evangelist, held a series of meetings in New Lisbon (Lisbon) drawing crowds of people. At one of these meetings two Quakers, George Martin and his wife, Naomi, identified themselves with this movement. A few years later, George and his son, Mahlon Martin, moved their families to a farm southwest of Wellsville in the vicinity known as Flats School. Here the Martins began family worship. It wasn’t long before friends and neighbors joined in the worship services. They met in one another’s homes. By 1838 the group had grown to approximately fifty people. It was then organized into a congregation. Mahlon Martin, a businessman, was the prime mover in the new organization and served as minister when none was available.
In 1841, the congregation decided to erect a building large enough to house the members and friends who wished to attend the services. A hewn log structure was built on the Hiram Cuppy Farm. The building was 40 x 60 feet and had a cobblestone foundation and a clapboard roof. If the structure fit the practice of the times, it had a dirt floor, a fireplace to take out the chill, and crude benches with no backs.
As the word and inspiration of the Restoration Movement spread and appealed to other people, it was natural that soon more members were taken into the congregation. Since many of the people had to make trips through the mud, snow, rain and over dirt roads to the Log Church on the hill, the members realized it would be more fitting for the building to be located in the town. They began looking for a suitable site to build the new house of worship. The new building was constructed from brick and was completed and dedicated in 1845 under the presiding pastor J.W. Lanpear.
Wellsville continued to grow into a bustling river city. There were wagon trains to New Lisbon, a stagecoach stop, and steamboat docking. During the life of the second church, the railroad came to Wellsville with all the “promise,” the birth of the pottery industry was taking place, and State Rights and Civil War were the topics of the day. Women raised their families, men worked twelve hours a day at manual labor and Christians found time to worship, to witness, and to grow in spirit.
Dr. James Monroe Van Horn, a Civil War veteran, was called to the pastorate of our church in 1873. Under his leadership and work, the congregation grew and prospered rapidly, making it necessary for a larger house of worship. In 1874, the third church was built. It was also a brick structure built on the same site as the second church. The cost of construction was $2,000.00.
It wasn’t long before additional space was needed and two wooden frame rooms were added. These two rooms are still existent in today’s building, having been included in the expansion and remodeling over the years.
In 1884, P.H. Jones, pastor of our church, decided to introduce musical instrumentation into the services. A reed organ was purchased and donated by Captain John Todd. Under the ministry of Pastor Jones, our members became evangelistic minded and during his final months here large revivals were held. In twenty-one years, they had outgrown the “new” building which seated approximately 150 persons. After serving as minister of our church, P.H. Jones was the city’s mayor during 1896-1897.
The “old” building was razed, and the present building was erected in 1896. The “New Temple,” as it was called, was built with red brick with windows and doors outlined with white brick. The building contained a bell tower. Cost of the construction was $10,000.00 and $5,000.00 for the furnishings and was dedicated on June 10, 1897 by R.M. Rains from Cincinnati, Ohio. Incorporated in the new structure were two rooms that had been added to the third building and mentioned previously.
The First Christian Church continued to grow and serve as a light to a bustling community. The city became a noisy railroad town with steam engines, railroad yards, repair shops, and coal trains. The Sheet and Tin Plate Mill, at least six pottery-associated industries, brick yards, coal mines, and nearby tile works all contributed to the “Boom Town” atmosphere. From 1911-1915 our congregation increased by 200 members. The basement of the building was completed, and a new pipe organ was purchased from the Schantz Organ Company of Orville, Ohio.
In 1924, the congregation purchased property adjoining the church property known as the “Bright Property.” It was a large frame dwelling that was remodeled in 1925 to be used for Sunday School rooms. Both buildings were renewed with a Stucco finish, and a metal ceiling.
As the clouds of World War II spread over the world, the members of our congregation became familiar with strange new names. Many sons and fathers went into the service in honor of their country and heritage. Following World War II as the practices and patterns of worship changed, it became evident that additional room was needed for our church. In 1952, an addition was added to the Northeast corner of the building known as our Fellowship Hall.
In 1966, the church purchased the property on the south side of the building. The double house was rented for several years before being torn down and it is now the existing parking lot. The cement used in the parking lot was obtained from over-runs on the Route 7 highway project.
Since these times, WFCC has continued to acquire new property + buildings, under the leadership of our pastor Mark Blakeley, as both the needs of our congregation and community grow. We continue striving towards our church’s original motto, to be “A Friendly Church in the Heart of a Friendly Community”, desiring to love on the people around us with the resources we have.