General Info

We are the Christian Church ( Disciples of Christ ) in Downsville, Maryland. In 1836 Christian evangelists began preaching in this area. We've been an established congregation here in Downsville since 1844 and we've been at 8641 Downsville Pike since 1953. We were on the square in Downsville before that. That's what we are - not who we are. The who is that we are Christians, and we are Disciples of Christ - the non-denomination of the 19th century - the Brotherhood - if, for a moment, you will. We are the people of Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone. We are the people who acknowledge no creed, but Christ and continue to believe to this day, as Campbell said, The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one ; consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ. Alexander Campbell grew up and was educated in Scotland. He and his father Thomas were Presbyterians who never understood, much less condoned, the practice of splitting a congregation along very thin theological lines. After a split in 1806 Thomas found himself to be a minister of the Old Light Anti-Burgher Seceder Presbyterian Church - as opposed to the New Light Anti-Burgher Seceder Presbyterian Church - as opposed to the Anti-Burgher Seceder Presbyterian Church. It really was that confusing. One Sunday at worship he was given a token which, when presented at the communion table, entitled him to take communion. The token meant that the presbytery had authorized him - and all with tokens - to receive communion. Alexander refused communion that day saying that if all were not welcome, he was not welcome. He believed as we do today, that no believer - no believer - can be turned away from the table of the Lord because it is the table of the Lord. We are merely invited guests as the Lord is the host. Alexander came to affirm believer's baptism rather than infant baptism. He believed, as we do today, that each of us is responsible to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and that no one can or should make that decision for us. The Campbells broke with the Presbyterians and also the Baptists before finding themselves a part of the movement they called The Disciples of Christ. The Disciples of Christ desired to restore the New Testament Church to it's beginnings. Hence the belief that, Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where the Bible is silent, we are silent.