From the News and Observer, Sunday May 27, 1964
“The neat, brand - new, red brick Church of
Christ at 1805 Waller Place in Rochester Heights
will be dedicated in services to be held today
at 3 pm.
Brother Andrew J. Cowan, will conduct the
dedicatory service and representatives of other
Churches of Christ are expected to attend.
Features will include a short talk by Randy
Hartley and solo and group singing.
Built by 16 members with the aid of
contributions from individuals and congregations
in eight states from Louisiana to Ohio, the new
church contains a 150-seat auditorium, two
classrooms, nursery, baptistry and minister’s
study. The auditorium can be expanded to seat
260 without major renovation. Dale S. Ward of
Raleigh was the general contractor.
The local church was organized in November,
1959, and has met heretofore at the Bloodworth
Street YMCA. In 1962, Cowan came to Raleigh to
assume his duties as minister and to supervise
construction of the church.”
Who could have known in 1958, when this work
began, that we would have taken the paths we
have to get to this point. The early efforts
involved Brooks Avenue Church of Christ with
support from congregations throughout the
southeast. There was much success in reaching
the population, but also major problems
maintaining a new congregation with most of its
members in the early stages of Christian
maturity and having very little economic
resources. The congregation grew early,
maintained that growth, but later ran into
difficulty. The church no longer met for a
period of years. Some members went to Brooks
Avenue, some went to denominational churches,
and some gave up all together.
The late Bro. Enoch Scarborough and his wife
Lucy met with a very small group in his home
until Bro. Earl Blair came from Arkansas. Bro.
Blair and his family, with support, built the
work again around 1980. The church family owes
him and his family a special debt of gratitude
for their untiring efforts.
In September of 1987, Bro. Michael L. Dublin,
Sr. began as associate minister to Bro. Blair.
In January 1988, Bro. Dublin became the
evangelist and continues the work.
Like all congregations, the church has
experienced growing pains over the years as
Christians at Rochester Heights continue to
follow the shining example of Jesus, who is
forever Lord and Master. The members have
determined that the doors will never close
again, until the church moves to a larger
facility to better serve the community.
