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(Compiled by Archie Luper in November, 1999 from the following sources: “Early History of the Eagleville Church of Christ” written by Mary Lois Arnold from history related to her by Mr. Wash F. Webb in 1942; “The History of Eagleville” by Minnie Fairfield Dyer written in 1972 [Information contributed to this document by Charlotte Ralston and Harry Patillo], and copies of original deeds supplied by Charlotte Ralston)
 The history of the Eagleville church of Christ begins at the Simmons School House, near Rocky Glade, about four miles northwest of Eagleville, about the year 1880. The church at Riggs Cross Roads, six miles southwest of Eagleville, sent and financially supported Brother W. F. Todd, a preacher from Nashville to conduct a revival meeting at the Simmons School House. R. S. Brown, who had become a member of the Church, was a School Commissioner and having possession of the keys to the schoolhouse, unlocked it for the occasions of worship.
The elders of this early church were R. S. Brown, Billy Williams and Hedger Snell from Patterson. Other families who are also remembered as belonging to the church at Simmons were the John Bellenfants, Bob Martins and Matt H. Dobson, who rode his horse from his home about three miles west of College Grove to worship.
The church had two revival meetings by Brother Todd and met each Sunday for worship. The members decided that they needed their own meeting house, and not being a wealthy congregation, had little to contribute to it but stout hearts and willing hands.
In 1884 one acre of land was purchased about one mile north of Eagleville and one-fourth mile east of the Harpeth River Bridge, at the site where only a few years earlier a black congregation met. Deeds provided by Charlotte Ralston show that Daniel McClaran sold the Christian Church two acres of "river bottom land" for $70.00 on the 9th of March, 1880, which land is now owned by J.W. McClaran. In spite of the lack of funds a most substantial frame house was built. Jack Campbell, who was now a faithful member, was asked for the donation of a fine poplar tree which stood in his woods, from which to saw the weather boarding for the proposed house. Mr. Campbell gave not only the one poplar, but many others as well and some oak and other trees for framing. The labor was donated by the zealous members. Dr. McCord who had just put a new sawmill in Eagleville, sawed the lumber free of charge, and thus the church house was built.
Services were held in this building for seven years. T. B. Larimore, of Mars Hill, Alabama, and Granville Lipscomb were two well known preachers who preached in the new house. Fount Deering also preached there.
 Detailed and well written records of the early church were burned in the Crosser house, when “Squire Anderson, who was making his home there, was attending to the church records.” After this loss, where being no other written records, the most remarkable memory of Mr. Wash F. Webb served as a storehouse of church history. Mr. Webb attended church at the Simmons School house, but became a member of the River church on August 4, 1884. After this he very seldom missed a service Sunday of night, until his wife became an invalid and he remained at home to care for her.
In the spring of 1891 the church was moved to Eagleville, to its present site. It is said that Mr. Chesley Williams, the owner of the property where the church is presently located, was prejudiced against the Christian Church and would not sell the property to them. He later sold the property to John S. Bell for the price of $150.00 on December 25, 1889, who in turn sold it to “R.S. Brown and others”, members of the congregation, for $200.00 on April 28, 1890. Since the land was more than was needed for the church lot, and finances were still low, two lots were sold off the plot, one from either side. As building lots were hard to buy in Eagleville, a Mr. Christopher was glad to pay $100.00 for the lot on the west side, and erected his dwelling immediately. Dr. Hyde, who had just moved to Eagleville, was a member of the church, and benevolently gave $100.00 for the lot on the east side, although it was several years before he built on it.
The church hired Tom Slate, master carpenter, to take apart the building on the river, haul it to Eagleville and rebuild it. Mr. Webb recalled that he did this so skillfully that there was "not much more than an armful of scraps left.” Therefore, this building was essentially the same building that was on the river lot. The new roof was steeper than the old, so new rafters were required, but the old framing, weather boarding and floor were used. The vestibule was added new.
The first monthly preacher at the new site was J. D. Floyd. Mr. Webb recalled that in those days preachers were scarce and the elders usually engaged a preacher for the summer meeting many months ahead of time. Brother J. M. Kidwell held the first revival meeting at the Eagleville location, in August, 1891. Elders at the Eagleville church were R. S. Brown, L. D. Bell and W. F. Webb, who remained an elder until he moved to College Grove in about 1927. Other families prominent in the early history of the church were the John Jones family, who moved from Texas and united with this church, and two Bell families.
From time to time improvements have been made to the building. In 1918 the house was repainted inside and out. The church never had much money, but after the first few years of financial help from Rigg's church, while at Simmons School House, it has not only been self supporting, but has contributed liberally to the Tennessee Orphans Home, first at Columbia, then at Spring Hill. It has also sent money to foreign missions on each fourth Sunday (for a long period of its early existence.) In the 1920's Mr. U. J. Owen, at his death, willed the church $1,000.00 from which the interest was to be spent "to help spread the gospel." On the church records of 1918-21 are many entries of funds sent to "sufferers in Europe" and "war work" and Japan Missions. The church has also held a Revival Meeting every year since it has been in existence.
In 1938 cracks in the floor had grown increasingly large and a new floor was laid, and the house again redecorated. As time went on, the need for a more modern building was felt and in the spring of 1960 plans were submitted for the present building. All the third Sunday contributions were set aside for this purpose. During this time there were no elders so trustees were needed to be able to secure the loan before the new building could be started. Larry Redmon and John L. Ralston accepted the appointment as trustees and served in that capacity as long as they were needed. John L. Ralston had also been serving as treasurer since 1954 and continued to do so until 1974.
The old building was torn down by Harold Hall in the summer of 1962. In September 1962 the new building was started and was completed in November of that year by the Pevahouse Construction Co. of Linden, Tenn. The approximate cost of the building was $33,000. In July of 1963 an air conditioner was added for the cost of $1,878.57. In 1966 the adjoining lot on the west side of the property was purchased from Lanny Turner for $5,600. An old barn was torn down immediately. In 1971 the house on the lot was sold for $500 with the agreement for it to be moved off the property so it could be used for a parking lot.
Written goals for 1979 provided by Spencer Loyd were listed as personal work, devotionals, Vacation Bible School, peg board used for attendance, more member involvement, fellowships, bulletin renewed and build Bible study.
Archie Luper began working with the Eagleville church on October 5, 1998. The congregation later established it's first budget at $886 per week. Average giving each week exceeded the budget amount all year and was averaging $1,023 per week by October. Thirty-eight new members joined the Eagleville church family from November 1998 through July, 2000. The attendance of children and youth tripled from the previous year. There were 105 members and 47 family units by summer of 2000.
In March of 1999 the entire downstairs fellowship area and classrooms were remodeled with new paint, carpets and light fixtures. Roy Lynch and Cecil Story built wall cabinets for each classroom and additional kitchen cabinets for the kitchen area of the fellowship room. New light fixtures were also added in the auditorium. That same month Maurice Armstrong, Brad King and Spencer Loyd were appointed as elders. In April, George Hedge, Joe Jack, Don McCord and Wayne Vaughn were appointed as deacons. Alberta Hedge served as church secretary, Nina Merritt was librarian, and J.W. McClaran was the church’s treasurer.
A complete list of the early preachers is not available, but some of the earlier ones are as follows: J. Paul Slaten, J. W. Grant, Arch Jordan, Newt Derryberry, Gibbs Taylor, T. C. Fox, C. M. Pullias, R. S. King, R. A. Largen, Parham, Pack, Powers, L. G. Kennemer, I. B. Bradley, Collum, Hale, Darnell, Merwin Gleaves, Joe Cook VanDyke, Dan Harless, Max Hambrick, Harvey Dodd, Lemon, Flowers, Hatley, Henley, Charles Locke, Joe Netherland, Robert Dixon, Roy Beasley and Morgan Poole.
The more recent ones are Dwight Bell, 1954; Neal Buffalo, 1955; Phillip Dunn, 1955; Wayne Tincher, 1956-59; Charles Mullins, 1960-62; Rodney Cloud, 1962-65; Wayne Clark, 1965-70; Charlie Haile, 1971; Faires Jones, 1971; James Dudney, 1972; Gary Chaffin, 1973-76; Ed Slayton, 1976-78; Jack Stone, 1978-80; Jodie Pigg, 1980-82; Paul Hosse, 1982-86; Mike Seale, 1986-89; Pat Gill, 1989-95; David Salisbury, 1995-98; Archie Luper, November, 1998 - February, 2001; Charles Mullins currently.
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