Chapter Thirty-One

Marion County Churches

by Mrs. Bernice Johnson

Christian Churches

Christian Church of Yellville

Page 499-500

"Soon after 1800, several white settlers came into the section that later became Yellville and its environs. The first white settlers, who were mainly hunters and trappers, did not have church services. Later, when they began to go back to Tennessee, Kentucky and other states, they brought their families back and first held services in their homes. A bit later, rude log huts were built for school houses. However, schools were held for only very short terms; consequently, the rest of the time the buildings were used by all faiths for church services and community buildings. Many of the early settlers were members of the Christian Church. Today, what is known as Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches were known as Christian Churches." This information is taken from Goodspeed's Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region.

For several years there was no organized church in this area. In the late 1920's Bro. John E. Chase moved here and held a meeting in the Baptist Church. He remained in this vicinity until around 1934 when he moved to Branson, Missouri, to pastor the Christian Church there; however, he returned one Sunday night each month to preach in the Methodist Church.

A church known as the Yellville Church of Christ was organized in the 1930's. A small frame building on Highway 62 was purchased and remodeled as a church building. This church building was used for several years but, the congregation outgrew that building and in 1954 plans were begun to build a new building. The old Arcade Hotel lots on North Main Street were bought and the ground breaking ceremonies were held in January 1955. The building, which is presently used, was built and occupied that same year. It is built of concrete block and has a basement, a minister's study, three classrooms, restrooms and sanctuary. In 1962 a three bedroom parsonage was built on the same grounds.

Bro. Marvin Tunnell is the pastor in 1976 and has been the pastor for the last four years.