What is now the Christian Church of Tonkawa was organized at the Richland Schoolhouse, four miles northwest of Tonkawa in 1896.  There is much evidence that a number of those persons who made the Run in the Cherokee Land Opening on September 16, 1893, and secured a claim to land in the area four miles northwest of Tonkawa, had a strong belief in God.  Their interest and leadership in the Christian Faith stirred them to join together to organize and start church services in that community known as the Richland School - District #66.

 The sod house of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Hembree was used in 1894 for the first Richland School.  Mrs. Cora Waugh was the first school teacher.  She taught for a three month term.  Her salary was $25.00 per month.  A frame schoolhouse was soon built, which by 1896 was used to hold church services.  Charter members of  the Richland Church were Mr.and Mrs. D.J. Moss,  Mr. and Mrs. Zel Jones,  Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Nave,  Mr. and Mrs. Ben Roark,   Mr. and Mrs. Lee March,  Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Hembree,  Mr. and Mrs. Abe Herje,  Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Sears,  Mr. and Mrs. T.E. McGinnis,  and Miss Addie Hembree.  This list of names were in the contents of a box that was  placed in the cornerstone of the first Christian Church which was built in Tonkawa on 10th and Grand.

Plans to construct  a building for Tonkawa First Christian church, were begun by people, who came together to  attend  a tent meeting, August 26, 1898,, which was held at the site of the water tower between Main and Seventh Street.  At that time church services were held  in Tonkawa at various places such as homes , the public school building on the east side of the 200 block of North Seventh  Street, and at the rural church already established at the Richland Schoolhouse, four miles northwest of Tonkawa.

A group met and plans were made and money  raised  for the first church building, which was built at  10th Street and  Grand Avenue.  A 38' by 45'  building, costing $1,169, was started  January, 1900, and completed and dedicated on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1900.


After moving into the building, a Sunday School was organized, with D.J. Moss as Superintendent.  Mrs D.J. Moss was the church secretary and treasurer.  The Elders were:  Mr. D.J. Moss, Mr. W.T. Sears, and Mr. J.D.Craik.  The Deacons were Mr. J.B.Nave. Mr. Zel Jones, and Mr. J.H.Lucas.   Rev. Walling was the first  Pastor.  The list of charter members included those already mentioned who were worshiping four miles northwest of Tonkawa at Richland School.

The church at Tenth and Grand made progress, and by 1908, was forced to build an additional room on the back of the building.  And again by 1915, two small frame buildings for Sunday School classrooms were constructed  on the back of the property.  This church building was used from 1900 to 1923.

In the early 1920's, plans were made and money raised to erect a new brick building at the corner of Ninth Street and Grand Avenue, the site of the present building.  These plans were fulfilled because of the great increase in population due to the oil boom of the 1920's with much wealth pouring into the community and the generous gifts given,  the sanctuary was contructed and dedicated in December 1923.  One of the first persons to remember the church was John W. See.  He and his family donated a large sum of money to the church, making it possible to build a new brick structure at a cost of $50,000.  To this new brick church building, dedicated in 1923, there was added to the corner stone a box containing resolutions and records pertaining to the plans and building of the church, how money was raised, names of elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers, officers, and the minister, - the Rev D.A. Lindsey. There was added also a beautifully done membership roll, written by the penman, Mr. George Boehme, along with  a bible and a copy of the Tonkawa News.

The elders at this time were John Whitson,  H.L.Wile, DJ.Moss and J.A.Brodley.  The deacons were Fred Williams, Elias Walker, W.E.Zody,  W.E.Smith, Floyd Christian, E.E.VanSlyke, Paul Jones, Floyd McAninch,  W.W.Davis and F.C.Davis.  The Sunday School Superintendent was Mr. Harvey Wile.

 The church continued to grow and in 1926 a Sunday School unit was built as an addition at the rear of the brick building, at a cost of $40,000.00.  In 1939, an all time high Sunday School attendance reached 835 on Easter Sunday.  In August,2004 and finished in November, 2005 a renovation was started to add an elevator to the front of the building, and an addition on the west for the Pastor's office and the Secretary's office. The present church in use today is the same brick church dedicated in 1923, with renovations, here on Ninth and Grand.

It has been over 100 years since the beginning of the Christian Church in Tonkawa.  From church services held in the Richland School house in 1896 to the church at Tenth and Grand in 1900 and to the church at Ninth and Grand, where we worship today.