EARLY HISTORY of THE CONCORD CONGREGATION
IN ORLANDO

Early Orlando residents apparently had few members of the Church of Christ .

Those that were here in Orlando endeavored to meet with other like minded souls.

Current inquiries trace assemblies back to the close of World War I. Sister Anne Carrol and her blood relation sister, Lantha Howard, were converted in Tampa, but moved to Orlando in 1918-19, and began worshipping with a small group in the home of sister Louella Parkhill. Her home was located just off West Central. The Lawrence 's worshipped here also.

The two daughters of sister Everett, Edith (Christopher) and Exa (Petry), recall worshipping in a Seventh Day Adventist building at Robinson Street and Rosalind Avenue in the early 1920's. A move was necessary after the building was sold and demolished.

Sister Bess Curry (1925) along with those mentioned above recall moving to a dwelling on Federal Street just west of Paramore and the old “Fair Grounds,” (Sunshine Park). An Alabama barber, Arch Shiver and family, moved to Orlando and taught a Bible class and preached here effectively. Partitioning the house were removed and an extra building was erected in the yard.

Still within the 1920's another meeting place was recalled by brother B.B. McCormack. This location was at East Central Street and Hampton. Late in the 1920's the Federal Street congregation and some, if not all, of the East Central group moved downtown to the City Hall Auditorium, now Beardall Park. Among those were already named were sister Lillian Black, the Baykins of Winter Park, the E.A. Howards and many others. The stay here was short due to the aggressiveness of Brother J. P. Lowery, who came to hold a meeting and stayed as minister in this new location.

I n 1931, these dedicated Christians paid the down payment on a building at 118 East Jefferson Street . These were hard years and great sacrifices were made by these people of God to meet the payments on the building. Brother Lowery was a source of encouragement and a tower of strength during his work with the Church in those trying years. The congregation became known as the Jefferson Street Church of Christ.

The congregation remained at the Jefferson Street location for thirty-two years. Through their work and dedication to the Lord, congregations were established in many of the areas around Orlando . In 1952 the Holden Heights Church of Christ was established as a direct result of the Jefferson Street Church . Thousands of dollars and countless hours of labor were given to begin this congregation. Most costs were met as needed. Two elders and about 100 members left Jefferson Street to insure the success of this new work. In 1956, the Par Avenue Church began meeting in their new building. Jefferson Street took the lead again in this work, furnishing the bulk of the financial support, much labor and again, about 100 members. In 1958, the Pine Hills congregation began meeting, and again the Jefferson Street congregation supported this effort. They supported with several thousand dollars and about 30 members. Through the years the congregation worked and sacrificed to establish new congregations and to preach the Gospel in many mission fields. In later years Concord Street gave a site on Lake Howell Road which became the South Seminole congregation.

The continued growth of the Jefferson Street congregation crowded conditions in the old building. Th. lack of parking space and a number of other things make it evident that the congregation would have to relocate. The elders negotiated the purchase of property on Concord Street in April, 1958. Arrangements were made to repay the indebtedness of the lot purchase over a period of seven years. The congregation responded in such a wonderful way, and the property was paid off in less than two years.

A building committee was appointed by the elders to formulate plans for the new building. Many hours of prayer and work went into the preparatory effort. The committee was composed of Ernest Boykin, Gordon Shoaf, Royce Powell, Edgar Moore, Herman Bradshaw, Quentin Brown, Claude Allison and C.K. Brown (who served as Chairman). Brother H.J. Bass also served for a time on this committee.

It became apparent that additional property would have to be purchased to meet city building and parking codes. In April, 1962, a fifty foot lot with a frame house was purchased on Concord Street The house was later sold and moved from the property.

In the early part of 1963, an additional house and lot was purchased giving access to Amelia Street In 1979-1980, three adjacent lots have been added.

Ground breaking services for the new building were held at the site on October 21, 19 62 . Failure to meet the scheduled completion date of March, 1963, necessitated the congregation's meeting in Marks Street School for a period of nine weeks when the old building at 118 E. Jefferson was sold to the Florida Technical College . Due to delays in construction and plan changes, the first assembly of the congregation in the beautiful new building at Concord Street was held on May 26, 19 63 .

On Sunday, June 16, at 3:00 in the afternoon, special services were held to commemorate the move into the new building. Brother Willard Collins, the vice president of David Lipscomb College was guest speaker. In a wonderfully inspiring message, he challenged the congregation to dedicate the beautiful plant to the teaching of the Book - the Bible. With the services of that day, a dream, long cherished in the hearts of a group of faithful and dedicated followers of Christ, became a reality. Ministers that have served Concord Street over the years are: Paul Breakfield, Herbert J. Bass, Gentry M. Stults, Ron Mclndoo, Charlie Boddy, Bill Watkins, James Moore, Jerry Whitmire and Lenny Smith.

Bible Call was an early outreach program that used the telephone to make about 300 lectures and sermonettes available to Orange County and parts of Seminole County . Another early outreach program made available through a cooperative effort of the Orlando area Churches of Christ was televising the Amazing Grace Bible Hour. May God continue to richly bless our labors throughout the coming years.

Contributed by: G. Norman Rose, for the Elders at Concord Street , November 1980