OUR STORY

How it all started...

The original church was founded on May 31st, 1850, as the Presbyterian Church of Pisgah. It was organized in a grove, where people in the neighborhood met occasionally to hold church services. It was located 2 miles south of Ft. Recovery, at the corner of Fox Rd. + Union City Rd. The organization consisted of 8 members: David Hays, Catherine Hays, Waitman Hastings, Eleanor Hastings, Nancy Collins, Samuel Briner, Mary Grissom, + Caroline Toppins. The first pastor was Reverend Isaac N. Taylor, who also pastored the Portland, IN Presbyterian Church (History of The Pisgah Congregational Church. Hastings, E.T. 1929.)

"When Moses was leading the children of Israel out of the wilderness in Deuteronomy 43 [34: 1-4], it speaks of the Lord who took him to a mountaintop.  That high place was called Mt. Pisgah, and from its height could be seen the land of Gilead and a promising future....I would like to think the founders were thinking of Moses and Mt. Pisgah when they named their church."

-Anna Louise Miller. "History of Congregational and Christian Church".

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’..."

Deuteronomy 34:1-4 NIV

"Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”

Deuteromony 3:27-28 NIV
While services were initially held in the grove, members decided a church building was necessary for a permanent organization. David Hays, who owned the grove, deeded it to the church trustees, with an acre of ground for the purposes of a church and cemetery. During the summer of 1851 + the following winter, a 'substantial' frame building was erected.  (Hastings, E.T. "HISTORY OF THE PISGAH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH". 1929.)

Ft. Recovery was incorporated as a village in 1858.  As more people were settling in the village, the Pisgah Congregational Church made the decision to leave the country and build in a more central location. Rev. M.W. Diggs purchased a lot in the village at the corner of Center + Main in 1883 and deeded it to the church trustees. It was there that they built a red brick church, at a cost of $4,000 (1).

1.) (1954, May 7). The Journal (19). Fort Recovery, OH.

"The church as first organized consisted of eight members...This little company though few in numbers were full of courage, willing to sacrifice for the cause they had espoused...This was the second meeting house erected in this part of the country."

- Mr. Hastings. Date Unknown.

"The country was new, the people poor, and the public religious conveniences which they enjoyed were necessarily few.  We see some of the more faithful ones going long distances on horse back or in heavy farm wagons, over rough and at times almost impassable roads to attend a religious service held in some rude log school house, farm, or grove..."

-Mr. Hastings. Date Unknown.

"It was in the face of these dis-advantages that early in A.D. 1850 Rev. Isaac N. Taylor, pastor of the Portland Pres. Church, a member of the Ft. Wayne Presbytery, began holding occasional services in the neighborhood two miles south of Ft. Recovery...the meeting at which this organization was effected was held in a grove where the church was after-ward built..."

-Mr. Hastings. Date Unknown.
Sometime between 1928 and 1929, The Pisgah Congregational Church united with the Christian Church that was located at 105 S. Elm Street and became the Congregational Christian Church.  They merged their members and resources, abandoning the brick building on the corner of Center + Main because the Christian Church was larger.

The Christian Church was founded in 1876, and the original building was built in 1877.
"On the night of March 21, 1941, the frame building on Elm Street was destroyed by fire.  Plans were immediately formulated for the rebuilding of a new church while the congregation held service in the Public School Auditorium. The present brick church was finished in 1942 and dedication services held the week of July 12-16, 1942." (1)

1.) Local Church Marks 100th Year. (1954, May 7). The Journal, p. 1.

becoming christ chapel

In 1957, several churches, including The Congregational Christian Church, united together and became The United Church of Christ. In 1985, due to doctrinal disagreements, they cut ties with The United Church of Christ to become an independent and charismatic fellowship. It was at this time that the name was changed to Christ Chapel.

After seeing consistent growth over several years, the decision was made to build a new facility in 2021.  Land was purchased and plans were prayerfully made.  A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 23, 2022. The building was completed, and a grand opening service was held on December 17th, 2023.

Be a part of our story...

Join us every Sunday as we gather to worship together at 8:30 and 10:15 AM.