Church History

In the beginning. . .

Steakley Home

Earline Steakley and her husband, Carl C. Steakley, like Priscilla and Aquila, opened their home to the fledgling congregation in its infancy. At first, the small group met together in their home on Wednesday nights, but attended worship on Sunday morning in Augusta. The congregation began to grow through Christians moving to Aiken as employees of the Savannah River Plant.

Masonic Building

The growing church secured the Masonic Building on Laurens Street where the first meeting of the Aiken Church of Christ was held on November 11, 1951. At the first meeting, 59 persons were present for Bible study, 70 for morning worship, and 50 for evening worship. Brother C. E. McCamie preached at the first service.

Pendleton Street

In January 1954, the brethren purchased a church building on Pendleton Street from the Lutheran Church. The building was filled to capacity by the first meeting. Soon it was bulging at the seams.

Whiskey Road

In January 1964, the brethren purchased 4.5 acres at 1040 Whiskey Road. In February 1966, the construction of a new building began. In July 1966, the opening day service was held in the new building. Brother W. G. Gantt preached the sermon on that day.

Croft House to Rinehart Way

The current home for the Aiken Church of Christ on Rinehart Way became a gleam in the eyes of our elders, deacons and members in 2002, At that time, out of the blue, an offer was made to sell the Whiskey Road property with sufficiency to purchase and build another structure for the church that would be fully funded. By this time, the much loved Whiskey Road property had served our body for forty years. However, the brethren felt unprepared and the first offer did not materialize. However, through much prayer, forethought, planning, and hard work, ideas and plans for our new building and new location came to fruition at Rinehart Way.

Croft House served as the bridge between the sale and vacating of Whiskey Road and the opening of the doors of the Church at Rinehart Way. Croft House, a 60-unit, independent living apartment complex for the elderly, had adequate amenities to accommodate the offices, classrooms, auditorium, and storage needs. It is well located near downtown Aiken and served the church for just over a year. Worship services, conducted in the Dining Room, were broadcast on closed circuit TV to residents’ apartments. The congregation was blessed by the attendance of a number of Croft House residents and sundry visitors looking to worship with the Lord’s body. During this period, baptisms were held in the jacuzzi at the home of one of our members, Flint Thomas.

As the body was vacating the Whiskey Road property, members scribbled heartfelt messages, scriptures and art work on the walls and floors of the building that would ever be “gentle on their minds.” In like manner on Rinehart Way, we, the congregation, dedicated the land and building to the Lord “after the manner of Joshua” (Joshua 24:14-15). We buried “the Word of God” under where the future pulpit would be built, using it as “a cornerstone and foundation for all we plan to do and say in this facility as we use it “in the service of the Lord.” The first meeting at our current address of 134 Rinehart Way took place on March 5th, 2006

Shepherds of the Flock

The following brethren have served as elders: Doug Pressnell, Del Owen, Neal Price, David Grimes, Sam Soper, Art Greer, Bill Jones, Norman Bryan, Ben LaMunyon, Ted Gantt, George Gentry, Kevin Lancaster, Dick Marshall, Michael Boerste, and Tony Waiswilos.

Preachers of the Word

The following men have served pulpit ministers: C. E. McCamie, Johnnie Edwards, J. Farris Baird, Alexander Campbell, Richard Walker, Otis Qualls, W. G. Gantt, Douglass Gunselmann, Pat Hicks, Paul Epler, Harold Peacock, Glenn Nichols, David Thompson, Don Cain, Mark Hudson, Brian McCutchen, Craig Middleton, and currently Chase Gough.