Kinmundy Christian Church

                  Kinmundy, Illinois

                                                          

                                     Located at 225 N. Monroe, the Kinmundy Christian Church is still active today!  (Phone: 618-547-3651)

                                                 Check out their website at kinmundycc.org

 

                   Other information can be found on their Facebook page by clicking on Kinmundy CC Facebook Page

                 

 

                                   (Remember that you can also use CTRL-F to find a particular surname within these pictures when you are on the page.) 

          

  

                                                                Click to return to  Churches Page

 

 

 

   We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma.  Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"?  What do YOU remember?

        The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories.  We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

        We would love to hear from you!  For more information, please contact: 

       

   Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

                       208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL  62530; (217) 625-7527

            or

           

            Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

                                         408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

 

 

     

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Directory (1973)

 

 

                    

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Anniversary Celebration (1984)

 

 

              

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Homecoming (1984)

 

 

            

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Directory (1991)

 

 

            

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Directory (1994)

 

 

            

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Directory (1999)

 

 

                  

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Centennial Review (1899-1999)

 

 

            

 Kinmundy Christian Church - Directory (2007)

 

 

 

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church

 

 

“Brinkerhoff’s History of Marion County, Illinois - 1909”; by Prof. J.H.G. Brinkerhoff

"The Christian Church at Kinmundy(pages 146-147)

            "In 1900 the congregations at Centralia and Salem loaned their pastors, Reverend SMART, and Reverend ROWE, to the little band of disciples at Kinmundy, to hold a meeting and organize a church.  The result was so encouraging that a church was organized and the present beautiful brick church was built.  From that time the church has been harmonious and constantly growing.  Elder F.O. FANNON has for the last five years served them half time and has made it the leading factor in church work in Kinmundy, numbering about two hundred members.

            This paper ought not close without a brief sketch of the one man whose labors for more than sixty years were largely the factors that made this grand result possible.  We refer to that grand old soldier of the Cross, John A. WILLIAMS, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, July 31, 1818, and came to Marion county, Illinois, at the age of sixteen.  They settled near Walnut Hill and made a farm out of the timber land one-half mile east of the village.  Mr. WILLIAMS was converted at Mt. Moriah church and began to preach occasionally as early as 1846.  He was ordained as a minister in 1850 and began immediately to preach the word regularly, often going on horseback from fifty to one hundred miles to all parts of Illinois, from Shelbyville to Cairo and from the Mississippi to the Wabash, planting the good seed everywhere.  For more than sixty years he preached constantly.  Mr. WILLIAMS was gifted with superb physical powers, being over six feet tall and of fine physique.  His mental powers were far above the average and his sermons were clear, logical and convincing.  His manner of winning and his knowledge of the Bible profound.  He died at the home of his daughter at Sailors Springs, Illinois, November 4, 1907, and was buried at Salem after the body lying in state in the beautiful new church one day.  The funeral sermon was by Elder BRINKERHOFF, assisted by Elder ROSEBOROUGH.  After the sermon an opportunity was given to any to speak, when from the immense congregation, gathered from many congregations of Southern Illinois, about twenty pronounced eulogies on the life of one they had loved so well.  His funeral was one of the largest and most impressive ever held in Salem.  Truly “his works live after him.”

 

 

"History of the Disciples in Illinois"

 

Kinmundy

Organized 1899, by J.H. Smart; present membership, 110; value of property, $5,000; Bible school began 1899; present enrollment, 134.    E.C. Bargh and his family, with a few other Disciples, had held meeting irregularly for thirteen years.  Min. J.H. Smart, then the pastor of the church in Centralia, was engaged by the mission board of the district to hold a series of meetings and organize a church.  This was done in the summer of 1899.  These meetings were held in the M.E. Church South, and in a public hall.  There were fifty charter members.  A lot was bought and a good building finished the next year.  The church has continued to grow in members and influence."
 

 

"The Kinmundy Express" - July 1, 1915

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church

 

 

First Christian Church built 1901 (corner of 3rd & Monroe St) in winter [torn down 1985]

“About 1900 the Christian congregations of Centralia and Salem lent their ministers, Rev. SMART and Rev. ROWE to hold a meeting in Kinmundy,  The results were very encouraging and a congregation was organized.  On July 4th of the next year, E.C. BARGH bought the lot on the corner of Third and Monroe from D.C. BEAVER, whose house was located there.  The house was then moved to the lot on the south of the High School Ag building, where it now stands [1957].  They immediately set about building a church and on June 1, 1902 the present brick building was dedicated.  According to old records there were abut 41 charter members; MERCER, BARGH, LOVELL, LYNCH, NELMS AND MATTHEWS families being among them.

Rev. F.O. FANNON was the first minister and served for about twenty years before accepting a call to Centralia.

They have always been active in mission work and at present are helping to support Kiamichi Mission, working with the Indians in Talihina, Oklahoma, and the BURNSIDE family who are near Honolulu, Hawaii.  The present minister is Rev. Rufus GERKIN.”[1957]

 

                                                                                                                        "Kinmundy Centennial Booklet; "Kinmundy"; Railway to Thruway; 1857 - 1957"

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church – July 1960 Ground Breaking for Educational building (pictured in "The Kinmundy Express" - July 28, 1960)

included in the photo are Tom Watson, Minister; Charley Howard, contractor, I.D. Ingram, T.A. McCulley, Lora Baylis

 

 

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church ladies

Third Row: 1)Ruth Doolen, 2)Mrs. Pete Miller?, 3)Lela Helpingstine, 4)Vera McCulley, 5)Bernice Berry,

    6)Mae Green, 7)Flossie Cole, 8)Nelda Jackson, 9)Dorothy Wantland Cox, 10)Ethel Gerkin

Middle Row: 1)Betty Dennis, 2)___________, 3)Maude Brown, 4)____________, 5)Gertrude (Rose) Shaffer

Front Row: 1)Lulu Ingram (on knees), 2)Nell Robb, 3)Blanche Jasper, 4)Esta Robb, 5)Hershel Pigg, 6)Lora Arnold

 

(Others usually present: Cora Correll, Della Sexton, Mrs. Minor, Ella Thompson)

 

 

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church - 1973

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church - 1977

 

 

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church Youth Bus (also known as "Old Blue")

 

Kinmundy Christian Church by Nelda Zinser

            "Having grown up in Kinmundy Christian Church with so many fond memories, I don’t know where to begin so I have chosen a few that stand out in my mind.

In the seventies, Ron and I were Youth Sponsors, and I remember taking our station wagon packed full of teenage girls to the Clinton, Illinois overnight rallies.  I still don’t know how we got that many girls and their clothes into a station wagon!

We had such an abundance of youth in our congregation during the 70’s that our board decided we could buy a bus.  We purchased the bus, and Paul Montgomery painted it two-tone blue with white trim!  It was not unusual to have 30 to 40 young people boarding “Ole Blue” each month to attend Marion County Youth Rallies.  She was a dependable means of transportation for taking the youth to and from camp and for attending area revivals.  Then we decided to go to the “Passion Play” in Bloomington.  It was a wonderful experience, and all went well until on our way home.  Ole Blue started “showing herself” just as we were approaching Champaign.  We all prayed and finally made it to a gas station just off the interstate.  This was not without “Man Power” however.  Several of the men on board had to get out and push!  Romans 5:3 says: We glory in tribulations; knowing that tribulations worketh patience.  I like to think that we were all a little more patient because of this experience!

We also built a lot of floats in our time: The Gospel Train (pulled by a “very young” Ron Zinser), the Muppet Float (pulled by Jim Diss) and Noah’s Ark (It floated!) just to mention a few.

Our years of working with the youth were quite a life changing experience!

Contests were always a fun thing at church, and many involved our former ministers.  Dale Hunt, of course, implemented the “World’s Largest Banana Split” which was made in a (new) 12 food section of guttering!  Ron Riley became a “Human Hot Dog,” complete with mustard, catsup, and pickle relish.  Mike Courson got to cream Ron Zinser in the face with a pie!  Harold Phillips preached from the “Roof top” of the church!  But memory of all memories, who will ever forget Les Boldt singing “Excuses”!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bell from Kinmundy Christian Church – 1986

Larry Ritter, Don Gilbert, Dean Baker, Dayne Bassett

 

 

Wyett Colclasure, Bro. Dwight Shaffer, and David Shaffer

 

 

Kinmundy Christian Church - 1978

 

Kinmundy Christian Church parsonage - 1978

 

 

                                                                                                 Kinmundy Christian Church - 2011

 

 

 Site and contents copyright - Kinmundy Historical Society (Kinmundy, Illinois) - a nonprofit organization.

(Information and photos on this site are not to be used for any commercial purpose.  It is free for the enjoyment and research of community and family information.)