First Christian Church Italy, Texas Fiftieth Anniversary (Abstract of article published in Italy News Herald Dec. 15, 1939) The First Christian Church of Italy will be celebrating its fiftieth birthday next year.  The Church has been serving the community in one way or another since 1890. According to records, however, the group that would later form the church was functioning as an organized body of worshipers as far back as 1875.  At that time they met in the old community school house known as the "Buttermilk School House."  It was used as a school all week and served as a church meeting place for various denominations on Sunday. When the South Italy school house was built the congregation carried on its work there and in 1890, transferred its activities to the present location.  The building now occupied was completed the following year.  At that time, the church took the name, First Christian Church of Italy, and has been known by that name ever since. Names found among the charter members: John Counch family Jim Couch family George Stroud family S. M. Dunlap family George Hamlett family Will Jenings family Willis Pruitt family Dr. A. B. Robuck family H. A. Erwin family Tom Johns family   Copyright © 2003-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Monday, 10-Sep-2018 10:23:07 MDT