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A History
of Central Church of Christ
Topeka, Kansas
The Lord’s church known as Central Church of Christ in Topeka, Kansas, had its beginning over one hundred years ago. One of the founding members wrote concerning its origin: “On Lord’s Day, February 21st, 1909, a number of members of the Church of Christ, located in the city of Topeka, Kansas, believing there not to be a Church of Christ in said city, meeting and worshipping according to the divine pattern given by Christ and the apostles in the New Testament scriptures and seeking to establish primitive Christianity that they might worship according to divine authority, met for worship at the house of Brother Wyatt Roush at 522 Buchanan Street, said city, there being present Brother Wyatt Roush and family, and Brother O.M. Whitlow and family. After reading of the scriptures, songs, prayers, exhortations, communion and contributing of our means, it was determined that these meetings would be kept up, and meet from house to house until a suitable place could be obtained for public gatherings and an appointment was made for the next Lord’s Day at the home of Brother O.M. Whitlow.”
These words were recorded in a book kept by Brother Wyatt Roush. These two families that met for the first worship numbered eight individuals and included Wyatt, Martha, Elsie, Loren and Nay Roush; O.M. Whitlow, Elizabeth and Lee Whitlow.
One week later on February 28, 1909, they met at the home of the Whitlows at 1515 Van Buren Street. At this time fifteen others joined them in the worship service.
By another Lord’s Day, March 7, 1909, several more had swelled their ranks as they met at the home of H.M. Bush at 1010 E. 8th Street. On this, their third meeting, their numbers having increased beyond the capacity of their homes, they made arrangements to worship at the Adventist’s Chapel at 5th and Western Avenue since the Adventists would be meeting for services on Saturdays. And so on March 14, 1909, they began renting this facility.
The church continued to use the Adventist building for more than six years. Then in September 1915, they arranged to purchase a building at 522 Polk Street. The church began meeting there in 1916 and continued to meet there until it outgrew that facility and in 1938 a building at Huntoon and College was secured. In 1952 the auditorium at this location was razed and the present building was erected on the site. The new building was occupied for the first time on April 5, 1953. In 1963 a Bible school wing was added and a preacher’s home was built adjoining the parking lot.
In 1941 work was started in East Topeka with a church building and preacher’s home being purchased and extensive financial assistance continued over a long period of time. This work became known as the Eastside Church of Christ.
In April 1958, a large number of members from Central began the Quivira Heights congregation in the southwest part of the city. In 1981, another group left to help establish the work in North Topeka. This congregation is known as the Northside Church of Christ.
Through the years the Central church has assisted a number of congregations throughout the state of Kansas, both financially and by men of the congregation serving as preachers where the need existed including Emporia, Osage City, Overbrook, Sabetha, Manhattan, Junction City and cities in western Kansas. Additional assistance was given to the Emporia Student Center, Hutchinson Prison Ministry, Leavenworth Prison Ministry, Herald of Truth, a nationwide radio program In Search of the Lord’s Way, a nationwide television program, World Bible School with headquarters in Cedar Park, Texas, and areas in the upper Midwestern United States. Efforts outside the United States include Dauners in France, Predisan in Honduras, Brazil, Germany, Russel Bell in India, Jiranjana Rao Mahi and Raja Sikhar Mathi in India, Paul and Janet Kee in Cameroon West Africa, the Philippines and an annual youth mission trip.
Ministers who have worked with this congregation are J.W. Brents, A.S. Croom, Homer A. Utley, Howard R. Atchison, J. Harvey Dykes, Herbert M. Broadus (serving over three decades), Wyatt Kirk, Jim Crain, Reagon Wilson, Doyle Cannon, Clyde Findlay, Sidney D. Ellis, Terry Collins, Raymond Glendinning and Jim B. DuBose. The following men have served as associate ministers at various times: Wyatt Kirk, Reagon Wilson and Jim Crane. Brother Evan Burdan serves presently as an interim evangelist.
The Central congregation has purchased nine acres at 4212 SW Burlingame Road with
plans to build a new facility on that location when the present 1250-
An enthusiastic and zealous body of Christians, continue to serve at Central, a tribute to the sacrifices and labors of the many servants of the Lord in the post one hundred years. Of those members meeting for the first time as the body of Christ in Topeka in 1909, the nearest remaining link to that group would be sister Maureen Stelzner.
We give praise and glory to our Heavenly Father for the successes of the past as we continue to look for His guidance unto an ever greater future in Topeka and beyond . . . if it be His blessed will.