A downtown Vancouver church will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a special worship service Sunday.
Vancouver First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 111 W. 19th St., will feature a guest speaker at its 11 a.m. service. The Rev. Sandra Messick is regional minister and president of Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
There also will be a presentation of the history of the congregation. It actually began in 1881 with meetings in a downtown hall, church historian Mark Wilton said. According to church records, early baptisms were held in the Columbia River, near the railroad bridge.
The congregation officially was organized in December 1890, with 54 charter members. The Rev. Dennis Cole, who served as pastor from 1972 to 1978, will also participate in the service. His father, the Rev. Howard C. Cole, had served the congregation from 1951 to 1957. The public is welcome.
