The original church was built in 1850 from hand-hewn logs and stood near the junction of County Roads S119 and 81. It served the entire local community, including both white residents and the enslaved Black people they held in bondage. Remarkably, both groups were included in the church’s membership. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, life in the region was upended. Amid the hardships of war, the church also functioned as a shelter and campground for soldiers, particularly during the harsh winter months. Despite the drastic changes brought by the war and its aftermath, the church continued to serve as a center for worship and community life. Eventually, however, it fell into disuse by the 1880s.

In response to the aging structure and changing needs of the community, a new church was planned. The site chosen was the location of the present-day cemetery, which had been established in 1870. The location was selected for its elevation, high ground that minimized the risk of groundwater issues for burials. At that time, the cemetery property was owned by Clarence D. Brown, who generously donated one acre to “G.W. Riley, J.W. Calhoun, and others, their heirs and assigns,” with the stipulation that the cemetery would henceforth be known as Calhoun Cemetery.

Not long after, plans were made for a new church building. Construction was completed in the latter part of 1900. The deed for the church included several notable conditions: the property would be used solely for church purposes, the timber on the land would remain the property of Mr. Brown, and the name of the church would be Christ Church, a name selected and secured in perpetuity by Mr. Brown himself.

Clearly, Mr. Brown was not only a generous benefactor but also a shrewd negotiator.