Our History

Services were first held in the “old Ironton schoolhouse on Wheatfield Street”; then in the Zimmerman home on Lincoln Avenue; and, for about a year, in the German Evangelical Church on Schenk Street. The first officers elected were: Elder, B. L. Rand; Deacons, George B. Vandervoort, George F. Rand and Calvin Jacobs; Trustees, B. L. Rand, George B. Vandervoort and Calvin Jacobs. Without losing any time the new church issued a call to Jerome Robbins to become its first pastor, purchased a lot at the corner of Payne Avenue and Christiana Street for $1,710, and decided to erect a church building as soon as possible.

The church was built, and on January 28, 1890, was dedicated. The total cost, including lot and furnishings, was $11,496.18. A mortgage of $3,500 was obtained, and the remainder of the cost was pleged by the members.

North Tonawanda presented a potent field for winning souls to the Lord. There were only six churches and a growing population. Most of the ministers of the new church were evangelistic in thought and manner, and thus, persuaded many to be baptized. It is reported that during one year in the ministry of Reverend Fannon, 263 additions were made to the church. It should also be noted that during this time the Sunday School was very active with approximately 400 on the rolls. A mission Sunday School was established in Gratwick in 1893 and another Sunday School on the corner of Oliver and Wheatfield Streets in 1899. The latter grew into the Tabernacle or Central Church of Christ.

The church played an important role in the life of many of its members in those early days. There were two services on Sunday, one in the morning and another in the evening. A mid-week prayer meeting was held on Wednesday evening. Meetings of the congregation could and did take place after any of these services. Church membership was taken seriously, and many congregational meetings were held for the purpose of excluding from membership someone whose “conduct was unbecoming of a Christian.”  In 1895 the practice of holding an annual roll call was begun. For example, in 1897, when the clerk called the roll of church members, 280 responded, leaving 183 names unanswered.

The work of the church progressed due to the dedication not only of its pastors, but also of its laymen and laywomen. Most of the pastorates were of short duration; consequently there were many times between pastors when the church was without the guidance of an ordained clergyman. Many of the practices, which today we take for granted, were begun due to the vision of these devoted people.

For many years the church had a “living link missionary” relationship with such missionaries as Mr. M. B. Madden in Japan and Dr. Marjorie Horner in Africa. One of the church’s own members, Dr. Zoena Sutton Rothermel, represented the church in India.

In the minds of some of the members of Payne Avenue Church and of Central Church was the possibility that a merger of the two congregations should take place. In November 1913 a committee was appointed to meet with Central Church to formulate plans for a union of the two churches. The plans, however, were abandoned. In 1919, moves again were made to unite the churches, but again they proved fruitless. On October 10, 1932, a committee was appointed to frame a resolution regarding the union of the two churches. This was adopted unanimously by the board and approved by the congregation on October 14, 1923. The pastor at that time, Reverend C. H. Bloom, having seen the churches approved merger, submitted his resignation so that a new pastor could be called to minister to the united congregation.

On November 28, 1923, the first meeting of the united congregation took place, and officers were elected. In February 1924, a call was issued to Reverend Walter Mansell. On January 23, 1924, the first annual meeting was held at which time a budget of $12,600 was adopted. The churches, however, were not really united. Two Bible School sessions were held, one in each building. Morning services were held at Payne Avenue and evening services at Central. The “united” church was actually two congregations with one set of officers and one budget. In May 1925, a proposal to buy the lot at Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Street and erect a new church was approved. This would necessitate selling the old buildings. Not willing to go along with these plans, 164 members of the old Payne Avenue Church petitioned the board for their letters and for the return of the old Payne Avenue Church and parsonage to them. In September, 1925, these requests were granted. Reverend Mansell elected to go with the old Payne Avenue congregations, and, with enthusiastic effort, formulated many plans for carrying out the work of the reorganized church.

In October 1930, Reverend Craig W. Schwartz came to minister to the congregation. He was to serve the church as its pastor for 24 years. The ’30’s were difficult times. Many people were out of work because of the depression. During these days Reverend Schwartz did much to bring about a deeper sense of loyalty among the church members and to gradually increase the membership of the church.

In 1938 the 50th Anniversary of the church was celebrated. Highlights of the celebration included the burning of the mortgage, making the church free of indebtedness, and the anniversary sermon delivered by Reverend C. H. Bloom.

War clouds, however, were on the horizon, and, with the onset of World War II many changes occurred. A shortage of food curtailed the famous “roast beef and noodle” suppers served by the Fidelity Club. Many young men of the church were in the service of their country, and two were to make the supreme sacrifice.

Following the end of the war, much work needed to be done, not only in the local church, but also in the community and world. To meet the problems of world hunger, an annual Compassion Supper was served. The first one, held in March, 1947, raised over $1,200. Reverend Schwartz served as a chairman of the planning committee that established the Cleveland Heights Christian Church in Cheektowaga. Ground was broken in March 1946 and the new sanctuary was dedicated in October 1947. The International and World Conventions of the Disciples of Christ were held in Buffalo from July 29 – August 8, 1947. The members of Payne Avenue were very busy helping to make the necessary arrangements for such a large meeting.

In 1953 a major project was undertaken by the church. This was the purchase of the property at 154 Christiana Street, known as the annex, to be used for additional Sunday School classrooms. The church then approved plans to resurface the exterior of both church and annex, to connect the church and annex and to rebuild the Payne Avenue entrance. The cost of this project was $57,000. When completed, the exterior of the church, although changed from the way it first appeared in 1890, was greatly improved, and a better facility was ready to continue the Lord’s work.

In 1954 the beloved C. W. Schwartz submitted his resignation as pastor so that a younger man might continue the work at Payne Avenue. That man was Howard R. Dungan who began his ministry in March 1955. He did much to build up the membership of the church, both in numbers and loyalty. He was also instrumental in starting the Community Christian Church, and several families from Payne Avenue were among those who began this work in the northern part of our city.

As noted before, efforts to unite the Payne Avenue and Central Churches met with failure. Another proposal had been made in March 1952, but it was decided that unification should not be attempted at that time. Finally, in 1961 the union of the two churches was accomplished. Palm Sunday, March 16, 1961, was the date of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Tonawanda.

One feature of the Tabernacle was a circular balcony with a brass rail and green velvet drapes. The bapistery was under the altar. The carpet was rolled back and trap doors raised for baptism. On one occasion when the trap doors were opened, steam rose to the ceiling. The water had been heated too much. It was winter so snow was brought in to cool the water.

One pleasant feature of the Bible School was the giving of gold badges by George F. Rand, Sr. to the scholar who attended Sunday School for one year without missing a Sunday. Once a badge was received, each successive year of perfect attendance was marked by a gold bar attached to the badge, the fifth bar having a jewel in it.

During the summer months, several activities were planned for the young people. A Daily Vacation Bible School was held for one month. It was held in the morning and those attending were taught sewing and basketweaving, plus other crafts suitable for boys and girls.

The teenagers went on several camping trips. There were no cabins available and the young people slept in tents on straw covered ground with blankets. Everyone looked forward to summer and participation in these activities.

The Bible School was soon filled to overflowing and members began looking forward to completion of the Tabernacle. About this time Mrs. Rand, Sr. passed away and Mr. Rand began plans to build a new church as a memorial to her. However, before this was accomplished, Mr. Rand died in an airplane crash in France in 1919. His children, knowing their father’s plan, made a gift of $50,000 to Central Church as a memorial to both parents and to be used toward the building of a new church.

The George F. Rand Jr. family had moved to Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, and in the early 1920s the congregation was invited to their home. After a reception, during which goats milk cheese sandwiches were served, everyone was taken on a tour of the house, which was beautiful.

At this time some became interested in the progress of the Disciples of Christ on the Niagara Frontier and some of the men in the church thought it an opportune time for Payne Avenue Church and the Central Church to become united and enter the new building under a new name. These plans were carried out and the united church became Church of Christ of North Tonawanda in November, 1923. An option was taken on the lot at Wheatfield Street and Payne Avenue. Early in 1925 a large majority of the former Payne Avenue members withdrew, retaining their former building and taking their former name.

The Church of Christ of North Tonawanda

Note: The Church of Christ of North Tonawanda (the church in North Tonawanda from which we originated) has gone through various name changes through the years.

We were originally named the Central Church of Christ in 1927 when ground was broken. The church was also named: Church of Christ of North Tonawanda, Central Christian Church, and Payne Avenue Christian Church (when the Payne Avenue Christian Church and the Central Christian Church merged in 1961.)

The surviving children of Mr. George F. Rand (George F. Rand, Jr., Calvin G. Rand, Mrs. Evelyn Sheets, and Mrs. Gretchen Penny), knowing their father’s wish of a larger church building, made a memorial gift of $50,000 to the Central Church in the early 1900s. This was a memorial to both Rand parents and was to be used toward the building of a new church.

With the money available, it was deemed an opportune time for the Payne Avenue Church of Christ and the Central Church of Christ to merge. Each congregation voted affirmatively. On November 11, 1923 the two churches merged and became the Church of Christ of North Tonawanda.

But they were never united. They had two Bible School sessions; one in each building. Morning services were held at Payne Avenue. Evening services were held at Central. They had in fact remained two separate congregations. This situation continued until April 29, 1925 when the whole church voted to purchase the lot on the corner of Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Streets for $5,700, and to erect a new church there. When the new building was complete the two old buildings would be sold.

Not willing to go along with this policy, about 150 members of the former Payne Avenue Church requested Letters of Transfer. They transferred out on August 26, 1925. This ended the merger of 1923. The remaining congregation became known once again as the Central Church of Christ and continued to make plans for the new building.

Ground was broken on June 28, 1927 for a new building, after the lot was purchased at Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Street. By this time the $50,000 had increased in value to $70,000. This money was used to help pay for the new building on this lot. The ground breaking was conducted by George F. Rand, Jr. The new building was of English Gothic architecture and equipped with modern church and Bible School equipment. The cost of the completed building was approximately $128,000. The cost of the organ was $5,245. The completed cost of the building and grounds totalled approximately $151,000. The Main contractor of the church was Crooker & Carpenter, Inc. from the Crosby Building at 170 Franklin Street in Buffalo. The architect was Harold Jewett Cook at 438 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. Bids on construction of the porperty came from 8 builders, with bids running between $108,985 and $118,995. The original Crooker bid was $109, 399.

Over 600 persons attended the final service in what had been the Tabernacle Bible School in 1928. Now these people would attend the new church on Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Street.

The cornerstone of the new building was laid on August 7, 1927. The dedication of the new building, now known as the Church of Christ of North Tonawanda, was held on April 15, 1928. Dr. Charles Medbury conducted the service. Dr. John P. Sala gave the address.

Through the generosity of the Rand family, an additional gift of $61,000, the church was presented with a cancelled mortgage on June 27, 1937. This was after a short ten years of church members’ helping in the payment of the mortgage and upkeep of the church. The church parsonage was also debt free.

Through the years the name of the church was changed to meet the wishes of the congregation. In 1958 the church became known as the Central Christian Church and then assumed the name of Payne Avenue Christian Church, when the two congregations merged in 1961. On February 19, 1961, the two churches (Payne Avenue Christian Church and the Central Christian Church at Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Street) voted to merge. On March 15, 1961 the court granted the petition for the consolidation and the new church became known as the Payne Avenue Christian Church. On March 26, 1961 (Palm Sunday) the first service in the new Payne Avenue Christian Church with the merged congregations was held.

History of Community Christian Church

1958 – 1970

The Community Christian Church, voted to disband in June of 1970. The property was sold to the Masons. Many of the Community Christian Church members united with the Payne Avenue Christian Church at Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Street.

The Community Christian Church, Wurlitzer Park was the result of a vision which the Reverend Norman Crawford, pastor of Grove Street Christian Church, had to establish a new church. On November 18, 1956 the Comity Committee of the Buffalo Area Council of Churches voted to allocate a location in the vicinity of Nash and Ruie Roads to the Disciple of Christ Churches. A site of 2.75 acres was given to the Council of Churches by Pearce & Pearce Company for the development of a Protestant Church in the Wurlitzer Park area. This property was then turned over to the Disciple Churches with the understanding that it would be an Open Membership Church.

The Disciples Union of Western New York voted to sponsor the project and appointed a Steering & Finance Committee. The Steering Committee located a temporary place of worship at the Wurlitzer Organ Plant. The first service was held there on May 25, 1958. Dr. Chester A. Sillars, Executive Secretary of the Northeastern Area, Christian Churches gave the sermon, “The Birthday of the Church.”

The records show that there were 18 members who came from the Payne Avenue Christian Church, then located at Payne Avenue and Christiana Street, and the Central Christian Church, located at Payne Avenue and Wheatfield Street, to make up a nucleus of this new congregation. These folks along with their children met for Sunday School and Worship in the Wurlitzer facilities for 20 months while plans for financing and construction of a permanent church building took place.

The Reverend Rutherford Shumaker was called on June 20, 1958 to be the first full-time pastor of the congregation. A small carriage house on Pine Woods Drive was rented and renovated to become the parsonage for the Shumaker family. Many activities took place in this small home, from holding department meetings to building small wooden chairs, designed by Reverend Shumaker, that the little children used in their Sunday School classes.

The small congregation launched an intensive canvass and membership drive in October of 1958, visiting homes in the area. The drive was challenged by the Reverend Howard Dungan to “Evangelize or face the alternative of seeing our church die and our witness disappear.” Progress reports were made weekly and the community was being made aware of the church’s activities and its plans for the future. The records show the membership increasing to 34 in the following three months.

It was also in October of 1958 that the architect, Charles Betts, met with the members of the congregation to determine the building needs of the church. Plans included the erection of an $81,000 first unit consisting of an auditorium and educational facilities. Funding came from various sources. The small congregation pledged $2000 to the building fund. The Disciples Union of Western New York through the generosity of its member churches raised $16,000. Another gift of $26,000 resulted from the sale of the Old Central Church of Christ in Buffalo. Still another gift of $9000 came from the Northeast Area Christian Churches.

Ground was broken for the new church building on Sunday, June 28, 1959. Mrs. Alta Hempel, a charter member of the congregation, was chosen to turn the first spade of earth.

It was during this period that Reverend Shumaker, having served as pastor through the difficult and challenging first year, resigned to pursue his studies for library work in a theological seminary. The date of his resignation was August 31, 1959. Guest ministers and laymen supplied the pulpit until November 1, 1959, when the Reverend Charles W. Hobbs arrived to assume the duties of pastor.

On November 15, 1959, Dr. Chester A. Sillars presided at the formal installation service for Reverend Hobbs in the organ room of the Wurlitzer Plant.

The following period of time was significant. The church building became ready for occupancy and the first worship and commuion service was held on January 24, 1960. Under the leadership of Dr. Bayne Driskill, a four-month effort on the part of the congregation resulted in the membership of 46 more than doubling. The outstanding date was March 13, 1960 when 54 persons indicated their desire to unite with the church.

One week later, on March 20, 1960, the church building was dedicated with approximately 230 people in attendance. The Reverend Howard Dungan, President of the Western District and member of the Steering Committee, gave the dedicatory sermon.

The second annual meeting in July of 1960 showed a congregation that had grown from 18 to 107 members in the two-year period. With a new pastor, a new place of worship, a growing congreation, and a spirit of enthusiasm, the future for Community Christian Church looked bright – still, there were many obstacles to face in the days ahead. New familiest had come and they had to be assimilated into the functions of the church and made aware of their responsibilities as workers as well as their financial obligations. Fortunately, some of the finest leadership for the church in these formative years came from this group of new members.

The months ahead showed steady growth in membership, 149 recorded as of July of 1961. Departments were functioning and training programs for church school teachers were being held. The sunday school enrollment stood at 107. Membership continued to increase to 256 by May of 1965, with 174 enrolled in Sunday School.

In early 1966, Reverend Hobbs announced to his congregation that he was resigning the pastorate as of February 27, 1966, his period of service being 6 years, 2 months and 27 days.

Following the resignation of Reverend Hobbs, the church experienced a fourteen month period without the services of a full-time pastor. During this time the pulpit was supplied by interim ministers.

On May 1, 1967 the Reverend Alan Dale accepted the call to the church and was officially installed soon thereafter.

The Church at Shawnee Landing

1998 – 2013

In 1998, the congregation voted to sell the building at the corner of Payne and Wheatfield Streets, in favor of building a new church campus in Wheatfield, New York with affordable housing on site. Design plans began soon after for property that the church purchased on Shawnee Road, and the name of the church was changed to The Church at Shawnee Landing. An offer was made to purchase the building at Payne and Wheatfield Streets in 2003 which was accepted, so the congregation packed up and moved to a temporary location on Ruie Road in North Tonawanda at the Masonic Lodge while plans for the Shawnee Road property continued to develop.

The congregation partnered with Belmont Housing to build 64 townhomes at Shawnee Landing which continue to offer low-cost housing to the surrounding community to this day. As the years moved on, building plans for the new church became more cumbersome and expensive. The congregation toured the former St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church campus on Payne Avenue in April 2010 and ultimately made an offer to the Diocese of Buffalo to purchase the property. In July 2010, the congregation returned to Payne Avenue and reclaimed its former name Payne Avenue Christian Church. Long-time minister Rev. Jerry McGlone who had led the congregation since 1986 retired in 2013.