WESTPORT CHURCH OF CHRIST CIRCA 1946
The Early Church: The church came into existence at Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. The Book of Acts contains a record of the Church's beginnings and teachings, and for many years the Church remained true to Christ's teachings. But by the mixing of Jewish teachings and traditions, paganistic ideas and through political intrigue the church was corrupted.
The Church Of Rome: During this period more and more power was exerted by church leaders in Rome. Morality was at a low ebb and much of the church leadership was corrupt. Centuries of ignorance and superstition resulted; the world was plunged into the Dark Ages.
The Reformation: In the early part of the sixteenth century, Martin Luther broke with the Roman Catholic Church and gave the open Bible to the world. John Calvin advocated the divine sovereignty of God. John Wesley laboured for more spirituality in the churches. Around these men and ideas, denominations were born. Modern denominations are the offspring of the Roman Catholic Church; they are attempts to reform. These men protested against the teachings and practices that existed in Catholicism at the time, therefore they were called "Protestants" or "Reformers".
The Restoration: Early in the nineteenth century there was unrest among the churches in North America. There were many who believed that the followers of Christ should lay aside the traditions of men and go back beyond the denominations and the Roman Catholic Church, to the church described in the New Testament. Almost simultaneously, yet without knowledge of one another, Walter Scott, James O'Kelly, Barton W. Stone, Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell appealed to all sincere believers to be "Christians and Christians only." Their purpose was not to start yet another denomination, but to "Restore" the unity and simplicity of the church as it existed just after Pentecost. Their goal was to be the church described in the New Testament.
Today's Restoration Church: We are not motivated by a desire to protest or reform. therefore we say we are neither Protestants nor Catholics. We are merely Christians who seek to follow the teachings of Christ in His Word. We believe that it is not a relationship to the system but rather a relationship to the Saviour that is important. We seek to obey His Word and not the creeds traditions or innovations of men regardless of how fine or well-intentioned they may be. The New Testament is as authoritative, valid and binding today as when it was written. Neither human nature nor man's spiritual needs have changed. The principles of the New Testament are as applicable to present-day man as to the first century man. Man's obligation to God is the same today as it was at the beginning of the Christian age. Our determination to know the exact truth of His will should be the same; therefore we should reject all creeds, doctrines and religious ideas that are human in origin and accept only the teachings of Christ as we learn them from the inspired New Testament. When we do this we will indeed be "Christians and Christians only."
A Brief History Of Our Church: In 1852, Donald Crawford of PEI entered Digby county and preached God’s Word with the aim of returning to the simple faith of the first century church. Following him, in September, 1859, George Garraty came to Westport and delivered thirty-six messages, after which thirteen immersed believers were organized and recognized as the church of Christ. They stated “We voluntarily proclaim to the world that we hear and adhere to the Lord Jesus Christ only, as the head of the church; that we take the New Testament only, as our constitution, creed, and our only rule of faith and practice; that we will adopt the names only that are given to the church of Christ in the New Testament, collectively or individually.” They also pledged to persuade as many as they could to unite on the great Apostolic plan of one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
Much has taken place with ups and downs in attendance and membership. Through one hundred forty-two years, the congregation has maintained itself, the original church building and parsonage, added a Sunday School/fellowship room around 1950 and then in 1985 purchased an adjacent house for use in teaching and fellowship.
Through several phases of the life of the church, she has been known as the Bethel church,
Westport Church of Christ (Disciples) and always as “the upper church”. She is now known as
the Westport Church of Christ, and that is what she endeavours to be.
Links to other sites on the Web
The Christian Restoration Association
from "An Invitation To Worship With THE WESTPORT CHURCH OF CHIRST" written by Victor McCullough