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Hanover Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Gift
Comments by Jack White
It is my privilege to speak to you today as a representative of Hanover Avenue Christian Church. First if I could I would like to give you a brief history of our church. Hanover Avenue Christian Church was formed originally from Seventh Street Church in 1875 as the Main Street Christian Church, later becoming Marshall Street Christian Church. A second tributary was West End Christian Church that later became Allen Avenue Christian Church. The two groups merged in 1913 and took the name Hanover Avenue Christian Church.
The church was involved in many service and witness programs. It offered it’s facilities to the Fan Free Clinic more than 35 years ago, established Telecare, served as a part of Richmond’s Stuart Circle Parish, including it’s Metro Meals Program and ecumenical celebrations and studies. Hanover Avenue was a sponsor of the first interfaith Thanksgiving services and has participated in countless other metro social projects and activities. More than a dozen community groups met weekly in the church. Many distinguished ministers of the Disciples of Christ have served the church and its membership has always been involved in regional and national programs and events. For many years the congregation helped support a Home Missionary and a World Missionary.
After more than 90 years at its location at Hanover and Allen Avenues, our church closed it's ministry on October 6th, 2002. The closing of a church is a crushing loss that can only be appreciated by those that have experienced it. A church is not a building, but it is people. Our people have since moved on into other congregations and have become part of new church families. Many have assumed leadership roles within their new churches. The spirit of Hanover Avenue Christian Church will live on through its people.
When it became necessary to decide to close our ministry or to continue to operate our congregation was faced with two alternatives:
1. Continue to decline and drain all of the remaining Trustee Funds.
2. Admit the inevitable, close the church with dignity, and give the money to worthy organizations.
Our mission at Hanover Avenue Christian Church was always to proclaim God’s grace and love and to serve God however we could. Therefore, between the two choices, the decision was an easy one, but it was also a courageous one.
We closed and sold our building, and as the members wanted, we have contributed all of the proceeds received from the sale of all assets as well as the money remaining in the Trustee Fund to Richmond Area Churches, Colleges, Seminaries, Community and State Ecumenical Groups, and even groups and organizations on a national and international level. This satisfied our congregation’s wish that we continue God’s work in many ways in many places.
The bible tells us that we should do good deeds and give generously without thought of recognition. No recognition was required for the gift we gave to this organization, but it is much appreciated and on behalf of the congregation of Hanover Avenue Christian Church I thank you.
John S. White Jr
Trustee/ Chairman Operations Committee
Hanover Avenue Christian Church
Upon presentation from Hanover, the Board of Directors announced the creation of a named fund called "God's Grace and Love Proclaimed" to commemorate the continuing ministry of Hanover Avenue Christian Church through the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy endowment fund. Additional funds my be designated for "God's Grace and Love Proclaimed" by contacting the office.
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