The Church

The church that became Christ Corner Church.

In 1965, a new congregation began meeting in a former synagogue in Henderson, Kentucky. This is the story of the building, the congregation, and the church that grew there.

Where it began

At the corner of Center and Alves.

Before there was a name, there was a place.

In 1965, Russell and Willard Clements began holding services in a building at the corner of Center and Alves Streets in Henderson, Kentucky. The building had previously been a Jewish synagogue.

For the congregation that gathered there, this became the beginning of a church that would eventually be known as Christ Corner Church.

Center Street and Alves Street signs in Henderson, Kentucky — Center & Alves Streets — the corner where the church began.

1965

A church begins.

In 1965, Willard Clements approached Russell about helping start and pastor a new church. Russell did not really want to pastor, but he agreed to work with Willard as co-pastor.

Together they found the building on Center and Alves Streets. They began holding services there, and their little congregation began to grow.

Historic church building in Henderson, Kentucky — The building where the congregation began meeting in 1965.

As the congregation grew

The church takes shape.

Willard eventually wanted to start another work. Russell tried to persuade him to remain, even offering to step down from co-pastor and become the worship and song leader.

Russell was willing to step aside from the pulpit so the work could continue.

Willard decided to leave, and Russell remained as pastor of the still-unnamed church for nearly 40 years, until his death on December 23, 2001

Finding its name

Christ Corner Church.

Later, Russell held a contest among the church members to see if someone could come up with a name for the church.

His sister, Pat, submitted the name Christ Corner Church.

Russell added the tagline: “Where Christ is Moving Today!”

Inside the building

A place with its own character.

The photographs below are part of the building's visual record — the sanctuary, balcony, stained glass, cross, and the organ that was there when the congregation took over the building in 1965.

Sanctuary and pipe organ inside the historic church — The sanctuary, with the organ at the front.

Pipe organ inside the historic church — The organ that was already in the building in 1965.

Wooden balcony at the rear of the sanctuary — The wooden balcony at the rear of the sanctuary.

Stained glass window and wooden stair detail — Stained glass and the woodwork inside the building.

Wooden cross with crown of thorns inside the church — The cross and crown of thorns.

The organ

A voice that was already there.

The old organ was in the church when the building was acquired in 1965.

It originally began as a pump organ. At some later point, equipment was added in the basement so that it no longer needed to be manually pumped.

The old organ is instantly recognizable by anyone who attended the church.

Close view of the historic pipe organ — A closer look at the organ's pipes and wooden cabinet.

The building's history

More than one chapter.

Before 1965

A former synagogue

The building on Center and Alves Streets had served as a Jewish synagogue before the new congregation began meeting there.

1965 onward

Christ Corner Church

The building became the home of the congregation Russell pastored after the work began in 1965.

An archive in progress

Preserving the place

As photographs, documents, and memories are gathered, this page will continue to preserve the history of the church and the building itself.