Richardsville Church of Christ began with the efforts of a few members from the Mt. The first organizational meeting was held at the home of Cletis Miller on July 18, 1957. Those present were appointed as a building committee with Cletis Miller as a building chairman and Karl Walters as Secretary and Treasurer. The discussion was mostly on trying to find a desirable let for the building. Alford, O
rland Alford, Clarence Miller, ONell Lawrence, Larmon Stahl, James Devore, Marion Eadens, Raymond Hazelip and Karl Walters. Several people offered to donate a building site, it was agreed that the most desirable location was property owned by Marie Cohorn located at 2125 Richardsville Road. Miss Nina Miller purchased the entire property and sold the lot for the church for the sum of $1200. A deed for the property was made to Marion Eadens, Karl Walters and Orland Alford. The appointed trustees as required by law were: ONell Lawrence, Cletis Miller and Clarence Miller. During the summer of 1957 timber was cut from donated trees and a building fund was started. Lumber for the entire framing and the inside of the building was donated by interested people in the community. The complete trim work inside the building was made from walnut trees donated by Karl Walters. A tent meeting was held September 26-October 5th, on the site of the present building of the Richardsville Church of Christ, with W. Sawyer doing the preaching. Bro. Sawyer was the minister of the Park Street Church of Christ in Bowling Green. The tent was furnished by the church at Franklin, Kentucky. Sylvia Davis was restored and Mr. and Mrs. Asher Young were baptized during the tent meeting. The charter members at the tent meeting were: Mr. Cletis Miller; Mr. ONell Lawrence and their children Nella Faye, Larry and Monty; Mr. Clarence Miller and Mack; Mr. James Devore and David; Mrs. Ethel Davis and Sylvia; Mrs. Pearl Walters; Mr. Tim Mercer; Mr. Asher Young; Mr. Karl Walters; Mrs. Elvis Runner; Mr. Marion Eadens, David and Ruth Ann; Mr. Orland Alford; H. Alford; Mr. Bruce Jones; Mr. Larmon Stahl; Mr. Walter Whalin; Mrs Claude Miller; and Mr and Mrs Paul Dotson. As plans for a building progressed, other congregations and individuals made donations and interested people gave personal time toward the labor. A small congregation of eleven members in Adak, Alaska sent a $200.00 donation toward the building fund. In the meantime the basement was dug and $3,800 was borrowed on a personal note to start the building. Cedar Springs Church of Christ at Fern Creek, Kentucky donated the seats. The Park Street Christ of Christ floor was checked for elevation and used as a pattern. Plans for the building were drawn by Cletis Miller. Woodrow Cherry wired the building. The gas was originally donated by B. B. Cherry from his local gas well. Even though the weather had been inclement during much of the beginning work being done, the basement was finished, the roof was on the building and the sub floor had been laid. The first service was conducted on the first Sunday of January 1958 in the basement. The main auditorium had not yet been completed. The day was very cold and the natural gas line froze up, the heat went off and it was rather uncomfortable. The attendance for the first Sunday was 65 for Bible Study, 120 for the morning worship service and 65 for the evening service. The contribution was $297.07. A tragedy was narrowly averted during the Sunday evening service when many were overcome by escaping gas fumes. The service was terminated and the building evacuated. The picture behind the baptistery was painted by Virginia Walters. On April 20, 1958 the first assembly was held in the auditorium with 87 for Bible Study and 100 for morning worship. A revival meeting was held by Jack E. McElroy on July 20-28, 1958 with 40 responses. Raymond Hazelip was the first preacher for the congregation. He voluntarily preached without any pay. The first elders were Cletis Miller and Marion Eadens. ONell Lawrence was appointed to serve as an elder in 1965. In 1974 Clarence Miller and Nyle Mercer was appointed as elders. Jemmie Clark, Guy Cole, and Larry Lawrence serve as the elders at the present time. Those who served the congregation as full-time ministers include: Raymond Hazelip 1958-1960; Harold Tabor 1960-1962; Oneil Nash 1962-1965; Jon Gary Williams 1965-1967; Marion Eadens 1968; Dan Tomlinson 1968-1969; Vernon Harris 1969-1972; Bill Taylor 1972-1973; Fred Ady 1973-1974; Henry J. Silverman 1974-1976; J. Brian Crowe 1976-1978; Bob Bradford 1978-1985; Stanley Jones 1986-1987; David Hamilton 1987-1989; Porter Young 1989-1996; Roy Markham 1996-1997; ONeil Nash 1997-2004. On January 3, 2005 Randall Jones began working part-time with the congregation as the local minister. He and his wife, Linda, currently reside at 2801 Lodge Hall Road. Randall also works at Federal Express part-time and Linda works part-time at Hope Harbor. They have two grown children Shannon and Zach. A group of 25 left the congregation in 1977 to form the Rays Branch Church of Christ. In July, 1987, an open shelter was built on the church property for fellowship meals together. On May 11, 1991 work was completed on the new steps in front of the church building. In December, 2003 the shelter was enclosed for year round opportunities of fellowship and has been available for the community to use. In 2006 a wind storm damaged two trees and the sign in front of the church building providing the opportunity for a new advertising sign with lights to be installed.
