The Holy Church of Christ

[rlvaughn]

Has anyone here ever heard of the Holy Church of Christ, a small denomination found in Northwest Alabama and Northeast Mississippi? I have identified the following churches that have that name (though I can't be sure all of them are organically connected).

• Emmanuel Holy Church Of Christ, Leighton, Alabama
• Fairview Holy Church of Christ,e Belmont, MS
• First Holy Church of Christ, Decatur, Alabama
• Harmony Holy Church of Christ, Walley, Alabama
• Hartselle Holy Church of Christ, Hartselle, Alabama
• Highway 36 Holy Church of Christ, Moulton, Alabama
• Hunters Chapel Holy Church Of Christ, Jasper, Alabama
• Lindsey Hall Holy Church of Christ, Danville, Alabama
• New Hope Holy Church of Christ, Nauvoo, Alabama
• Phillips Chapel Holy Church of Christ, Empire, Alabama
• Pine Grove Holy Church of Christ, Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama
• Pinhook Holy Church of Christ, Moulton, Alabama
• Pleasant Ridge Holy Church of Christ, Moulton, Alabama
• Red Bay Holy Church of Christ, Golden, Mississippi

If you are familiar with this group, do you know anything about their history (or a source of information on their history)? So far I have not been able to find anything online.

Thanks!

 

[rlvaughn]

Thought I'd bump this up -- jump in case.

 

[Jerome]

Earliest mention of them I've found is the mid 1970s. Do you suppose they're a schism of the Churches of Christ?

 

[Jerome]

From one church's website's "What We Believe" page:

Hunters Chapel Holy Church of Christ

Church Covenant

Having given ourselves to God, by faith in Jesus Christ, and adopted the Word of God as our rule of faith and practice, we now give ourselves to one another by the will of God in this solemn covenant.

We the Holy Church of Christ represent the old Church of Christ that He built on this rock, the oldest church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We also believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who shed his blood on the cross of Calvary for our sins. He is the door.

St. John 3:5-7 “Jesus answered, verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit it spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.”

St John 10:9, “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

We believe that the Authorized King James Version of the Bible is the true guide with nothing added to it or taken away.

We believe that water baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God. We baptize in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, which the Lord commanded us to do.

We believe in establishing Holy Churches of Christ and setting in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders and deacons of the church.

We believe that the church should pay tributes to the ministers of God.

We believe that all members who come into this church shall be subject to the Bible for it is the guide of the Church.

We believe that there should be no schism in the body, but the members should have the same care one for another.

We believe that the Bible is the revealed Word of God, and that Holy men wrote it when they were moved on by the Holy Ghost. We believe the Bible is revealed to His people by the Spirit of God and the Bible is not the spirit, but the sword of the Spirit.

We believe that all things must be done in love, in preaching of the Word, being instant in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking and exhorting with all long suffering and doctrine.

We also believe that if a brother be overtaken in a fault, we that are spiritual should restore such a one in love and in the spirit of meekness.

We believe that all members should be diligent in attending the worship services of the church according to Hebrews 10:25. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We will never be governed by anything that is contrary to the Authorized King James Version of the Word of God.

 

[Jerome]

Same website mentioned this:

The Way of The Cross

"A Christian Publication for The Holy Churches of Christ"

"A monthly newsletter packed with 'Good News' from all our Churches, mailed right to your mailbox."

"The Way of The Cross is published with the soul purpose of edifying our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We are communicating with each other through this vehicle. We can read 'The Good News' and be relieved of all political and secular intervention. We are packed with only 'News' of our Churches, events, Revivals, Singings, Baptisms, Souls being saved, Vacation Bible Schools and naturally to pass on the Word of God. We feature a Church once a month, we have a Bible puzzle or quiz, there are even your favorite recipes, from those famous Church Suppers"

 

[Jerome]

Another to add to your list:

Cains Chapel Holy Church Of Christ, Jasper, Alabama

 

[rlvaughn]

Earliest mention of them I've found is the mid 1970s. Do you suppose they're a schism of the Churches of Christ?

I don't get the feeling they are, but that doesn't mean anything. They seem doctrinally more like Free Will Baptists, or a combination of Baptist & Methodist. I have some info on their doctrine that a guy sent me (basically what you have above), but he didn't know about their history. I haven't found anything in any of the handbook of denominations type books I have. I don't have easy access to Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions (I'll have to go to the library). It tends to have a lot of groups not listed elsewhere. But perhaps the Holy Church of Christ has flown under the radar there in rural northwest Alabama. I have an "electronic friend" in Alabama whose church had a preacher from the Holy Church of Christ preach their revival (he's the one who knew something of their doctrine but not their history).