First Christian Church, Sweet Springs, Missouri

The First Christian Church of Sweet Springs (known at that time as Brownsville) was organized in 1843 and built a church edifice in 1854. The tornado that hit the town in 1882 destroyed that building, leading to the completion of this church the following year. The dedication of the now-historic church occurred under the backdrop of economic growth. While the community had lacked nearby railway access in its first decades, a branch line arriving in 1871 brought renewed economic opportunity and investment. Together with the commitment of church members, this prosperity made it possible for the congregation to build this structure without taking on debt. 

Built in 1883, The First Christian Church of Sweet Springs, Missouri, served as Sweet Spring's first organized church. The congregation organized in 1843, erected its first church in 1854, and then built the historic building in 1883. The historic church building arose at a time when Sweet Springs (then known as Brownsville) was enjoying growth from the railway lines coming through town, which helped its farmers immensely. A few years after the building opened, the city evolved into a tourist destination because of its nearby spring waters. 

Originally named Brownsville in 1838, the town that became Sweet Springs struggled to survive in the mid-nineteenth century. Initial railway lines in Missouri bypassed Brownsville (and all of Saline County). Farmers began to flee the city and its parent county during the 1860s. However, the Lexington & St. Louis Railroad arrived via a branch line, which stopped in Brownsville in 1872. Railways and railroads expanded into the area throughout the 1870s, allowing its ample farmland to evolve into a coveted commodity. Indeed, during a five-month stretch in 1875, nearly 2,000 railroad cars left the Brownsville area full of goods such as hemp, corn, and livestock.

The town's population and visitor numbers increased as the ag-business and railroad operations expanded. During this period of growth, the historic First Christian Church building emerged (1883). But, the church history in Brownsville dates back several decades before the landmark building arose. In fact, the church was organized in 1843 and met in its first building, a wood-frame structure, in 1854. The congregation met in the wood-frame church for twenty-eight years until a tornado destroyed it. Fortunately for the church, two wealthy members contributed to constructing a new building, and the town's growth and healthy economy allowed for robust donations from locals, as well. Consequently, the congregation built the now-historic church in 1883 without going into debt. 

Brownsville eventually became a destination for leisure travelers during the 1880s and 1890s due to its proximity to spring water and the growing popularity of travelers seeking healthy outdoor activities. The creation of the Sweet Springs Health Resort, coupled with the railroad's arrival, led to a construction boom for downtown Sweet Springs (which now serves as the community's historic district). Also, in 1887, to reflect the town's connection to the spring waters, the city changed its name from Brownsville to Sweet Springs. By the twentieth century, the springs lost their appeal, and the automobiles supplanted trains as the preferred mode of transportation for shipping goods. Still, the church remained. 

In the end, the church congregation met well before the town suffered from initial railways bypassed the city, benefited from the railway's eventual arrival, or profited from its proximity to spring waters. Still, the historic building, which had to be built after a tornado destroyed the 1854-structure, arose at a time when the population and downtown area saw its first boom. And, it survives today more than a century after the allure of either the railroad or the spring waters disappeared. In short, the town's history has seen its ups and downs, but the church has been a staple since twenty years before the Civil War took place.

Maserrang, Roger. "Multiple Property Documentation Form: Historic and Architectural Resources of Sweet Springs, Saline County, MO." National Register of Historic Places. mostateparks.com. 1997. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Historic%20and%20Architectural%20Resources%20of%20Sweet%20Springs%2C%20Saline%20County.pdf. 

Reavis, Pauline. "Nomination Form: First Christian Church, Sweet Springs, Missouri." National Register of Historic Places. mostateparks.com. 1980. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/First%20Christian%20Church%20Saline%20Co..pdf.