Winfield Church of Christ

A Brief History of the Winfield Church of Christ

Picture of old building that burned and the building as it looks today.

Preliminary Note: Much of the following is from an article written by Mrs. Belle Smith Wheeler, who complied much of the history of the church covering the early period and up until 1955

In the 1880’s and early 1890’s the traveling evangelists, Virgil and Jerry Randolph, preached occasionally in the school building located, then, in the southern part of Winfield. Virgil Randolph was the father of Mrs. Mary Smith. Jerry Randolph was her grandfather. It is reported that some of the meetings were held in the Methodist church building.

In 1895, Elisha Vickery, stepfather of Mrs. Newt Whitehead, donated the property where the first building stood. A wood frame store building occupied the property at the time. Windows were put in and the store building was thus made into the first permanent place of worship for the church.

Church buildings in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s were all about the same style in architecture. The floors were wide wooden boards. Pot-bellied stoves, which burned wood and later coal, were used to heat the buildings. In this building rubberized runners were placed in the isles, supposedly, to keep down the squeaking of the floors.

In worship one or two cups were used for communion and linens were placed both under and over the communion. Multiple cups were introduced as time passed, but the use of the linens over and under the communion continued until the church began to meet at its current location. In the 1900’s, men’s hats ere passed around to collect the offering. Sis. O.C. Lambert, formerly Sallie Russell, bought the first collection plate.

Bro. C.A. Wheeler, better know as Uncle Charlie, held the first Gospel Meeting in the building. Mrs. Newt Whitehead was the first to make confession and be baptized. Tom Smith, the father of H. T. Smith (Uncle Babe Smith), and Elisha Vickery were the first appointed elders. J. B. Whitehead and Sterling Smith served as the first deacons. According to a hand written record kept by Newton Whitehead the 24 charter members were: Elisha Vickery (elder), Thomas W. Smith (elder), J.B. Whitehead (deacon), Sterling Pate (deacon), Newton “Newt” Whitehead, F. T. McCollum, H.C. McCollum, Martha C. Vickery, Rebecca E. Whitehead, Della Whitehead, Joseph M. Whitehead, Dora Whitehead, M.M. “Katie” Smith, J.B. Vickery, Leah P. Vickery, Aughtie Aston, Mollie Aston, Caroline McCollum, Rosa Belle Vickery, Mrs. L,A, Smith, Frank allen, John W. Janey, Mattie Earnest, and H.C. Holcomb.

Bro. C.A. Wheeler continued to preach once a month and held meetings in the summer for 6 more years. G. A. Dunn, Sr., who was at that time president of Alabama Christian College then located at Berry, AL, preached monthly and held summer meetings for 2 or 3 years. Some of the other evangelists who served the congregation in conducting Gospel Meetings were: John Allen Hudson, Willie Lloyd, C.R. Nichol, A.G. Freed, John T. Lewis, E.R. Harper, John D. Cox, Gus Nichols, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Sam Chambers, John O’Dowd, and N.B. Hardeman.

The norm of that day was two weeks of Gospel Meetings. The visiting evangelist would bring his own song director. In those days, song directors were in short supply. Many times, younger “preacher boys” would travel with the evangelist, as a training period. Numerous conversions were common occurrences. Hell fire and brimstone sermons would stir the hardest hearts. It was common for services to be long so babies were placed on quilts in the floors to nap during the services.

There were no regular “located” preachers at this time. Preachers known as “circuit riders” would travel from place to place preaching; sometimes only once a month at a particular location. G.A. Dunn, Sr. preached against preachers locating at one place. His idea was that all preachers would be traveling evangelists and that the Bible forbade located preachers. Large crowds attended services of the church in those days and the Church of Christ was popular with many.

After the death of Tom Smith, Newt Whitehead was appointed as elder and remained until he became unable to serve because of ill health. His brother, Buoy, was very faithful in building fires and ringing the bell for services. Buoy was married to “Miss Emma,” another faithful member. They were parents of Paul Whitehead, who wrote, “When Winfield Was Mud Streets”. Other faithful workers were Mrs. J.G. (Alice) Stalcup, and Mr. and Mrs. A. G. “Big” Williams who moved here from Amory, MS. Mr. Williams was appointed as an elder and served until his death. Reuben Rose was appointed as an elder in 1924. Chester Estes worked with the congregation for 8 years and taught in the high school.

It was in 1933 that a brick building on the original property donated by Elisha Vickery. That building stood just west of the original wood frame structure. It remained in service until it was destroyed by fire in 1957.

J.O. Jones built a home, later purchased by Marshall and Annie Lou May, located on highway 78E, and worked with the congregation for 5 years. During this time, in 1940, Sterling Pate was appointed as an elder. John McClesky and family were the first to occupy a new preacher’s home which was built in back of the church building on a lot which was bought adjoining the original church property. He lived here 3 years. Jimmy Faulkner followed him and worked here 3 years. W.S. Thompson worked with the church for 2 years and taught in the high school. Curtis W. Posey came next for 2 years, then Ferris Havard for 1 year. The Marshall Wyers family came in 1954.

After the fire destroyed the building in 1957, property was acquired and the present building erected at 107 N. Second Street which is just off highway 78 E. (When the proposed E-911 addresses became operable the address will be Apache Street.) Dedication services were held on May 4, 1958. In 1975 and Educational Building was built adjacent to the church building and in 1986 a Fellowship Room and additional classrooms were added to the back of the Educational Building.

Following the erection of the present building ministers who have served include: Marshall Wyers (15 years), Bryan Howell (4 years), Lomax Green (1 year), Steve Pope (1 year), Kenneth Bray (2 years), Buren “Bill” Cox (8 years), and James F. Wyers (son of Marshall Wyers, serving 12 years to date). Since the erection of the present building those who have served as elders, in addition to those previously mentioned, include: John Harbin, Marshall Wyers, R.L. Garner, Hewitt Addison, Eugene Holt and Dale Housh.

Some of the very early family names which graced the Wnfield church include: Vickery, Smith, Allen, Earnest, Whitehead, McCollum, Aston, Haney, Russell, White, Anthony, Barnes, Williams, Rose, and of course, many others.

Among the most interesting and colorful characters of the early era included W. G. Pemberton. Bro. Pemberton was somewhat of a drifter. He came into Winfield and worked as a sign painter and artist. He painted murals in baptisteries and in homes. The Pate family hired him to paint a water scene in their bathroom. The Burgess Anthony family had several of his paintings, and one now hangs in the City Diner building. Bro. Pemberton was a self taught artist, with a unique style all his own.

Perhaps, he was best known for painting sermon charts for Bro. Gus Nichols. Many very well remember hearing Bro. Nichols preach from these colorful charts, Bro Penberton would take a white sheet and paint the lessons with great care and precision. These lessons became works of art. Some of our members are privileged to have some of these charts in their possession at the present time. Young people were fascinated by the charts. This is a lost art, with all of the technological learning taking its place. Many treasure those “bye gone days” more and more, as the years roll by.

It was through Bro. Pemberton’s sermon painting that he was converted. His wife would check the scriptures for accuracy before “Pem” would paint anything. After his conversion, he became a diligent Bible student, which led him into teaching and later preaching. He taught an adult Bible class in the second meeting house. Later, he built a church building on the east side of town what was known as the Chapel Hill Church of Christ. He became a beloved gospel preacher, overcoming a drug and alcohol addiction during his conversion. Because of asthma, he moved to Knoxville, TN where the air was better. He longed for east Winfield, but never did move back. He sold the white stucco house to Sterling Pate. The Pates and Pembertons were very good friends and the Pate family is still in possession of a letter from Bro. Pemberton, which he signed “The Fishing Parson.” Many lives were blessed by the Pemberton family.

Methods of teaching have gone from Bible only to include the use of lesson quarterlies, and commentaries for the adults. The children’s classes have gone from a simple card lesson to books, puppets and other audio-visuals. Many other outward changes would be obvious even to the casual observer. However, in spite of human imperfections, the congregation has remained true to the ideal of commitment to simple New Testament Christianity and is currently active in many good endeavors to spread the gospel and do good unto all.

We truly owe a great debt of gratitude to those pioneers who have paved the way for us and enjoy the fruit of their labors and warm by fires we did not build. Truly, “their works do follow them.”

On this our 100th Anniversary, we thank God for the work of faith and labor of love of our forefathers. Most of all we thank God for giving Jesus to die for our sins and purchase the church with his own precious blood.

Note: Brother James F. Wyers starting preaching for the Winfield Church of Christ after his father, Marshall Wyers, passed away in 1986 and is still preaching there as of July 2007.