History:

The Faith Community:

Utica Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was one of the earliest Christian Church congregations in Mississippi, having been organized between 1830 and 1840 with the first meetings being held in homes beginning about 1832. Names of those involved in the organization have been lost, with one exception: Jefferson H. Johnson is known to have been involved in the year 1836. Meetings were conducted in homes until the first church building was completed in 1854, at which time Rev. J. Jones was called as pastor. He served until 1859 and was followed by Rev. R.V. Wall in 1859 and 1860.

As one might expect, the Civil War adversely affected the church from 1860 to 1868. During the time there was no regular pastor; T. W. Caskey of Jackson conducted periodic services at the church. During 1868, Rev. W.H. Stewart conducted revivals here, which influenced four young men to attend school in Lexington Kentucky, and become ministers in the Church Church (Disciples of Christ). The four were B.H. Ross, Jonathan Stanley, Al Terrell, and G. W. Terrell. Rev. Stewart continued to preach intermittently until 1879.

In 1879, Rev. R. A. Bishop was called as pastor and served until sometime in 1882. Between 1882 and 1896, it seems that the church was served by ten ministers, but the exact times of each one's service is no longer known. (The names of these ten are included in a list of pastors found later in this history.) Since 1897, the church has generally been served by a pastor, except for short periods of transition between pastors.

In the late 1800's and early 1900's, Christian Churches were organized in several communities near Utica, and the group at some point became known as the "Utica Unity of Christian Churches." In addition to the Utica Christian Church, there were the Christian Chapel Christian Church, the Dentville Christian Church, the Griffin Memorial Christian Church, and the Reedtown Christian Church. In 1960, these church merged with the Utica Christian Church, thereby strengthening their fellowship.

The Church Buildings:

The land where the present building stand was deeded by James C. Lee on August 19, 1847, to the following trustees: M. Ball, C. F. Broome, T. H. Campbell, Henry Hudson, Robert Jones, J.C. Lee, Thomas Nixon, Peter Stubbs, and H. N. Wise. The first church building was completed and dedicated in 1854 under the leadership of Rev. J. Jones. Among those who contributed to make the building possible were Baldwin Beachamp, Anderson Mims, Henry Newsome, Henry Smith, and Daniel Yates. This building burned in 1930 from a grass fire that originated in the cemetery.

Under the leadership of M.D. Bragg, Hubert Currie, and D.A. Owen, a new sanctuary was built by volunteer labor of men in the church. This building was completed in 1933. In 1948 the church purchased the H. H. Davis home on White Oak Street for a parsonage in preparation for Dr. Bert R. Johnson assuming pastorship of the church. Under his leadership, in the late 1950's, the church began plans for a new church to be located in front of and connected to the existing building. Upon Dr. Johnson's death on October 6, 1959, leadership of the building project was assumed by Lenon W. Kitchens, Chairman of the church board. The new sanctuary was completed and dedicated on October 9, 1960.

In 1977, the church parsonage was remodeled and two bedrooms and a bath were added upstairs, in preparation for Rev. Travis Pugh and his wife assuming pastorship of the church on October 1, 1977. Also in 1977, work began to modernize the former sanctuary (completed in 1933) to provide the current fellowship hall, kitchen and four classrooms. This conversion was completed and dedicated October 15, 1978.

In 1986 the windows in the present sanctuary were replaced with stained glass, and glass panels were added to the foyer. In 1990, the front entrance to the sanctuary was modified by incorporating the large area of stained glass above the entrance.