HISTORY OF BELLVIEW CHURCH OF CHRIST
The first services of the church in this community were conducted on the first Lord’s Day in 1952 in the old Bellview school building located at the corner of Bellview Road and Millview Road. They were:
Brantley, Hairston and family
Goelz, Elaine
Goelz, Robert P. and family
Kittell, W. and family
McNeece, Tom and family
Muldoon, Elmer and family
Muldoon, Evelyn
Rutherford, Zera
Simmons, H. and family
Staples, Lucille and Sharon
Staples, Thelma (now Kelley)
Turner, A. and family
Williams, George W. and family
For the first few weeks, this group met only on Sunday mornings for Bible study and worship service. Various homes near the school building were used for children’s Bible classes. All members attended their home congregations on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights. They met in the old school building for one year. During that first year, a two and one-half acre plot of land was purchased and the building, in which the church at Bellview now meets, was erected. Great determination and enthusiasm for the cause of Christ was demonstrated by the fact that this was accomplished without outside financial aid from other congregations. However, one family, Brother and Sister A. Turner mortgaged their home to obtain funds to build the building. On the first Lord’s Day in 1953, the first services were conducted in the new building. Brother Hugo Kosel was the first person to complete obedience to the gospel by being baptized in the new building. The congregation experienced a steady growth in membership and attendance from the beginning. An educational building was completed in 1956. It contained 11 classrooms, an office and restroom facilities. In the year 1958, a minister’s home was built on the church property. Looking ahead to future growth, an additional two and one-half acre plot of land was purchased in 1959. The plot of land joins the original property on the east side. In 1997, a one-acre plot of land (with a wood frame dwelling house) was purchased that joins the original property on the west side. In 1998, a 0.61-acre plot of land was purchased that joins the original property on the northwest corner. In 1965, the educational building was enlarged to 22 rooms. This was the first stage of an extended expansion program. Another phase of expansion with extensive remodeling was completed in the year 1968. A combination garage and storage building was constructed. The auditorium was increased in size from a seating capacity of 225 to 400. New pews were installed and outside brick walls added. Also the parking lot was paved. In 1973, the Bellview Preacher Training School was established under the direction of the Bellview elders with William S. Cline serving as administrator. In preparation for this school, a building construction project was completed which added 2,679 square feet of floor space. This area is being utilized for office space, print room, library, and zone meeting room. The school was discontinued on February 7, 1988. The congregation’s first elders were appointed December 19, 1965. Those appointed were Hairston Brantley and Bill Gallaher. The first deacons were appointed November 13, 1966. Those appointed were Elward Brantley, Randall Johnson, and Calvin McDaniel. The current preacher, Michael Hatcher, has been working with the Bellview congregation since 1994.
