In the fall of 1913, there wasn't an assembly of the church of Christ in Farmington, WV. Through the efforts of brother Joseph Stewart, thirteen members of the Lord's church began to meet regularly in the Farmington Grade School. It was decided that they needed a place to worship that belonged to them. Brother Meade Jones donated the land on which the building was to be erected. Brother and sister S.D. Howell were in charge of the actual building of the structure. Brothers Hobert and Oscar Jones hauled a lot of the materials for them. There were many people who donated money, time, and material to see that the building was able to be completed. Here are a few of those noble people:

T.J. Conaway, John Meyers, J.A. Reger, Mrs. J.F. Ice, E.C. Wilson, Charles Parrish, W.C. Matthews, Lucy Wells, Emma Wilson, C.D. Conaway, W.P. Mason, William Efaw family, O.R. Jones, B.F. Ammon, J.F. Laugh, W.E. Laugh, J. & W. Pitzer, J.S. Stewart, Ellis Martin, J.T. Matthews, Mrs. C. Moore, S.D. Howell, C. Toothman, J.E. Fetty, W.E. Wilson, Lesley Haught

Through much effort the meeting house was built and first used on Oct. 18, 1914. The total number of members on the roll at that time was 38.

The Farmington Building Built In 1914

Brother Charles Swisher was the first located preacher. The first elders of the church at Farmington were brothers Meade Jones, Lantz Hupp, Joe Stewart, William Wright, and Bill Matthews.

The first deacons were brothers John Matthews, Arte Hawkins, Dana Toothman, Hobert Jones, and Clarence Toothman.

It is interesting to note, that at this time there was not a regular assembly of the Lord's church in Mannington, WV. There were several members of the church in that area. There used to be a street car that ran from Mannington to Farmington, and since the members from Maanington were eager to be able to worship in a building built for that purpose, the brethren from Mannington would ride the street car to Farmington to attend services. The cost was about $0.21 per person, per trip. Many of our brothers and sisters could not afford to make the trip back to Farmington for Sunday evening services. One sister said that she could remember very few times they were not invited to stay over for Sunday dinner, so that they could attend Sunday evening services. Needless to say, the congregation matured and grew over the years.

By the year 1971, the congregation membership had grown to around 120-125 members. Over-crowded conditions of the facility promted a decision to build a bigger facility to meet their needs. Once again much prayer and work was done to build a place to meet in. Land was purchased on Rt. 250 in the small community of Oakhurst. R.D. Roberts, Jr., Arct.; drew up plans for the new building. Just as when the first building was built, a lot of our brethren donated money, time and material. Only this time, the names would be too numerous to list. We moved into the new building early in 1974. There were 125 (?) members on role.

The Oakhurst Building A Few Years Ago

Elders who have served since those first mentioned are Hobert Jones, Ira Cole, Denzil Yost, Ray Cunningham, Archie P. Rowand, Wilbur Toothman, and Clarence Arnett. Our current elders are Max Bouillet, Murle Toothman, and Dick Stanley.

Deacons who have served since those first mentioned are Lester Willard, Rick Clelland, Gary Toothman, Murle Toothman, Dick Stanley, Lawrence Bainbridge, Archie L. Rowand, John Toothman, Bill Criado, and Kyle Tuttle. Our current deacons are Jack Cook, Craig Raber, Tim Stevenski, and Tim Gump.

Preachers who have served in the located work are Melvin Barker, Stanley Lemasters, Charles Cole, Jesse Ennis, Dwight Baker, Joe Lively, Phil Grear, Brent Brady, and Andy Robison. Randy Cook currently serves as the pulpit minister. The past two years we have been blessed to have James Cook serve as our youth minister during the summer.

The Lord has truly blessed the congragation here over the past 95 years. We have had our good times as well as our bad ones. One thing that remains strong is the faith and determination of the brethren that the Lord's church will grow and always be known in this area. As our brothers and sisters before us labored and left us a truly great inheritance, may it be said of us 95 years from now, that our example and faith has kept the church alive and well.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." . . . Ephesians 3:20-21