First Christian Church of Lafayette, IN was organized in July of 1839, led by organizing pastor and evangelist the Rev. John O’Kane—somewhat of a legend in the early annals of Disciples of Christ history. The congregation met for several years in the County Courthouse. Other meeting places included the Wallace School House on North Street, Heath’s School House, and the Stockton School House. The first Church building was erected on North Sixth Street in 1845, between North and Brown Streets. The congregation at the time numbered about 48.

A mere five years later that initial building was destroyed
by fire, but was rebuilt almost immediately. The building served the church
through 1874. At the time the congregation was able to acquire property from
the Methodist Church at the northwest corner of Fifth and Ferry Streets.

A new church building was dedicated at the corner of Sixth
and North Streets in May of 1914 and remains the present location of the
congregation. That building occupied the space where the education wing of the
church currently stands and included a prominent dome that stood as a
distinctive feature of the downtown Lafayette landscape for 40 years. The
current sanctuary was constructed adjacent to the previous one in 1954. The
1914 building was then extensively remodeled to form the current layout of the
education building.

Another fire—this one set by an arsonist—significantly damaged
the educational building on Christmas day, 1992. The fire itself was contained
to the older building, but smoke damaged the entire complex. Reconstruction and
repairs took several months at a cost of just under half-a-million dollars.

The last 60 years in particular have been a significant time
in the congregation’s life. Served by a succession of three outstanding pastors—Joe
Wick, Jack Snellgrove, and Greg Eberhard—the congregation has had an active
educational and youth program, has enjoyed significant connection with Purdue
University, provided leadership for the Indiana Region of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), has been known in the community for its strong music
program, and has been very active in ministry with and for the community. First
Christian Church has a rich heritage of witness on which to stand.