Jefferson City’s rich spiritual and cultural legacy

Capitol Avenue, formerly known as East Main Street, played a key role in the early development of Jefferson City’s churches. Methodists, Episcopalians, Christians, and Baptists all found a home in the capital city. The churches would later change locations and build larger buildings, but they stayed on or close to Main Street.

Many churches had Missouri Governors and their families as members. The Presbyterian Church claims three governors: Samuel Baker, J. W. McClung, and John Dalton. The Presbyterians built their first church across from the Governor’s Mansion in the 100 block of W. Main Street and later moved to their current location at the corner of Madison and McCarty Streets.

“For more than 180 years, these churches have continued to grow and provide spiritual support.”
—Deborah Goldhammer

Virginia Julliet Lard Woodson, the wife of Gov. Silas Woodson and Caroline Crittenden, wife of Gov. Thomas Crittenden, helped establish the First Christian Church. The First Christian Church, organized in 1873, was erected at 718 E. Main St. in 1883, and their current building, at the same location, was built in 1909.

Other prominent church supporters include Gov. Lon Stephens and his wife, Margaret, whose donations and fundraising efforts helped build the current Methodist Episcopal church. Some of their fundraising and church related events even took place on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. The Methodists built their first church on the southside of the 200 block of Main Street. The Methodists divided in 1844 as Methodist Episcopal South and North. Methodist South moved down the block on Main in 1874 before moving to their current site in 1888. The Methodist North would buy the Presbyterian church across from the Governor’s Mansion.

The Baptists built their first church in 1838 at the corner of Monroe and Miller Streets. By 1866, they moved north, where the former News Tribune building once stood. They then moved to their current site at the corner of Main and Monroe Streets in 1888. The Second Baptist church was an offshoot of the first, and, according to James Ford’s “History of Jefferson City,” in about 1859, Emanual Cartwright, a Black minister, was permitted to hold meetings. With the consent of their masters, the Second Baptist Church was organized and held services in a small frame building near the corner of Main and Jefferson Streets. They later moved into the original Baptist Church on Miller and Monroe Streets, their current location.
The Episcopalians built their first church in 1842 at the corner of Madison and Main Streets. In 1897, they moved to the corner of High and Adams Streets. Local architect Frank Miller lamented the tearing down of the first church, claiming it was the first Episcopal church built west of the Mississippi River.

“What a historical mecca that would have been to future generations,” he said.

Many of these early churches suffered trials. When the steamboat carrying President James Monroe docked in Jefferson City in 1849, it introduced a cholera epidemic. The Presbyterian Church served as a hospital to treat infected patients. During the Civil War, the congregation divided, disbanded, and sold its building in June of 1865. By 1868, the remaining members reorganized and had a new building at the corner of Madison and East McCarty Streets.

Grace Episcopal Church twice became a hospital first during the cholera epidemic as member Dr. Alexander Davison used the church to care for patients. In 1861, the church, consisting primarily of southern sympathizers, was converted into a hospital for victims of the Civil War. At the same time, Union soldiers confiscated the Baptist Church at Miller and Monroe Streets to use as their barracks. The building became so dilapidated by the end of the war that it was used as a horse stable.

The current Methodist church stems from the south denomination and almost expired.

“During the war, and indeed up to 1870, this society can be scarcely said to have existed,” according to Goodspeed’s “History of Cole County,” published in 1889.
Their building on Main Street was in disrepair by the end of the war, but at the end of hostilities, the nine remaining members of the congregation revitalized the church.

For more than 180 years, these churches have continued to grow and provide spiritual support. They contribute much to the community, including food pantries, assistance for the homeless, mentors for children, youth programs, fellowship groups, financial and material support, and fundraising for other local programs.