There has been little formally published concerning the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pawnee, Oklahoma. In his book Oklahoma Christians, Dean Stephen J. England wrote:

 A Charter member of the church at Pawnee, Mrs. Frank Smith, could recall that, in the spring of 1894, some six loyal Disciples began to meet in the homes to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Attendance grew until the church was able to meet "in a real house, weather-boarded and shingled, with two rooms." Sunday School was held in this Structure, and preaching whenever a preacher could be found. In the same autumn a tabernacle was erected, with canvas sides, a board roof and a boarded floor. Evangelist Daniel Dunkelberger was called to hold a meeting and organize the church. [page 85]. As helpful as these words are, we recognize that from the 1890's to the 1990's much has occurred in Pawnee, Oklahoma.

 This is a brief sketch of some of the happenings in our congregation during these years. For much of the early history, we are indebted to Florence Smith who wrote her recollections of this time.

 In the time immediately after the Cherokee Strip run, there were members of the Christian Church settling the land  Days were hard and there was much work to do to change the wild territory into a settled land. We can only assume that Disciples in this area must have spent some of their free time either individually or as families worshipping God.  We are indebted to these pioneers for our beginnings in this new land.

 Dean England writes of the first "formal gathering" of the Disciples in Pawnee. It is the spring following time opening of the Strip. Six women whose souls were hungry for the necessary spiritual strength came together In one of their homes (actually more of a tent against a wagon] to observe time Lord's Supper. What better formal beginning could a church have than this? From the hearts of these earlier settlers and in particular these six women, First Christian Church, Pawnee, Indian Territory and now Oklahoma was launched.

 After the success of this simple service, these women's thoughts turned to the children in the area. They decided to hold Sunday School for the spiritual nurturing of these children.

 Soon the attendance at these Communion services increased to the point that their one small room was two small. Another loving soul offered the use of their home of two rooms. The "church" would now meet in a real house, weather boarded and shingled.

 Although our modern minds might think such meager surroundings would not be conducive to worship, our early day members had pleasant memories of this two room house. They held both services and Sunday School, even though they had to carry chairs from their homes or sit upon goods boxes. The work of the Lord spread and the hearts of people were touched and changed in these humble surroundings,

 Soon, the two rooms were filled and it was decided to build a tabernacle and hold meetings. The size of the tabernacle was sixteen by twenty-four foot with canvas sides, a floor and board roof .  In addition to this structure, the members contacted Daniel Dunkelberger to hold a meeting.

 The efforts of our early brothers and sisters were rewarded. We now had twenty-one members. Life in Pawnee at this time was still hard. People would come to work their claims and found the could not make it.  Businesses would come and go.  As a result, there were several transient members. In fact, depending on the season, especially during spring and summer, there were either a number of members or virtually no members.

 The church filed articles for incorporation on August 22, 1895. The trustees at this time were C. W. Bacon, J. W. Suthard, and J. W. Nevil.

 Besides the transient nature of those early members, summers were also hot and the intensive heat generated on the roof of the tabernacle made it so uncomfortable that only those who were intensely interested attended.

 Of course for our early members, going to meetings was only part of their work for the Lord. Our members would visit each other to spread the news of God, they would seek our children to invite them to Sunday School. They would hold sewing circles.  One of the first outreach efforts was directed towards the people who lived in "Tent Town" on the east side of town.

 As the membership grew, it was obvious that the tabernacle would not suffice. The lot on which the tabernacle stood was offered to the church with the stipulation that they would build a permanent structure upon it.  It was a generous offer, but even with growth, the congregation was "so small" they could not find the necessary Funds and had to abandon the project.

 Frustrated, but not discouraged, the members continued to pray for help and for helpers, for they knew their strength was through the Lord. What those early members lacked in numbers and funds, they more than gained through their faith.

 Finally, the tabernacle became so uncomfortable that it was abandoned. The next location of the congregation was in a vacant residence. Later they moved to a store building.  The congregation was certainly on the move in those early days ... unfortunately it was simply shifting locations.  As the weather became cooler attendance would pick up and with the warmer weather, attendance would fall again. Finally a hard decision had to be made. The early members decided very reluctantly to give up meeting until they could have a permanent gathering place.

 In the winter of 1899, the member's faith and work located a building they could use, Congregational church. A meeting was called and V. E. Shirley of Nebraska presided.

 A new vitality was seen as the church finally established a permanent ministry in Pawnee. Although the Congregation church building was only a temporary venue, the members also held Services over the calaboose, in the city hall, tents and in the court house.