First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

This church is part of the religious movement known as Disciples of Christ or Christian Church born shortly after the American Revolution in 1809. It is the largest Protestant communion founded on American soil and arose as a protest against the sectarianism of the 19th century which had divided and weakened the universal church. First Christian Church, Wilmington, North Carolina was founded in 1907 by 35 families at a small tabernacle on Fourth St. The congregation met at multiple locations in Wilmington until a church was built at Third and Ann St. in 1947 (now home to the Salvation Army Church). By 1957 the congregation had grown to 500 individuals and additional space was needed. Land was purchased at the current church site at the corner of Oleander and Mimosa Drives. The new sanctuary was dedicated in 1963 and an educational and administrative wing was added in 1972. To meet the needs of the congregation, a second worship service was added in 1997 which is now our contemporar...