History of the local congregation goes back to 1840 when John Gaylord, a coach maker and preacher, held worship services and home prayer meetings. The first recorded meeting was conducted December of 1854. During the 1850s William R. Fulcher and Thomas H. Bowen began preaching in New Bern on the second floor of a downtown building, apparently on the corner of Pollock and Craven Streets, across from City Hall.
From 1866 to 1875 the movement was aided by Dr. J. L. Walsh, medical practitioner, preacher and publisher of The Messianic Banner, a Biblical monthly newspaper. N. S. Richardson, proof-reader for the paper, converted to the Christian Church. Richardson realized the need for a permanent place of worship and began seeking money for a church building. In August 1867, the church had $151.87 on deposit drawing interest. However, it was not until November 8, 1885 that Richardson reported the purchase of a 101 x 744 lot located at 309 Hancock Street and costing $225.00. The church was dedicated on December 1, 1889, with 65 charter members taking part in the charter signing service. The building was Gothic-Revival in style, with a tall steeple. Membership grew to nearly 500, and the congregation, often crowded for worship, considered moving to a new location where there was room to expand.
However, they remained on Hancock Street, until December 1, 1918 when the building was completely destroyed by fire. The property had been insured for only $1,000.00, and again they needed to raise money. They had $7,800.00 by 1920 for the purchase of the site on which the present church now stands at the corner
Broad and Bern Streets. Then, John R. Taylor mortgaged his home for $10,000.00 for construction costs, and ground was broken in 1921 for the first phase of the new church building, which included the first floor, or basement. (This area now serves as the fellowship hall and nursery areas.) The ground floor was roofed over and used for worship until the upper floors of the church were completed and dedicated on April 18, 1926. At that time the debt was $20,000, loaned from the Board of Christian Church Expansion. In later years, the church acquired additional side lots for parking.
In 1999, the church extended the brick wall, paved the lot, and landscaped the property as dictated by the New Bern Preservation Association. The church also acquired and placed new signs in front of the church and in the newly paved parking lot, facing Broad Street. In January 2001, a large brick sign, constructed of matching brick, was erected in the front to replace the small, original, wooden sign that had rotted.
The small building at the rear of the property, which was formerly the Carolina Trailways Bus Line office, has been completely remodeled inside and out and equipped for meetings and recreational use by the youth. Donations by the Cotten family, as well as others, made the remodeling possible, and it is now known as the “Margaret Cotten Youth Building.”
By 2003, due to the dedication of many individuals with the help of gifts and memorials, all of the above had been accomplished. On November 16, 2008 a mortgage-burning ceremony was held in the sanctuary. Broad Street Christian Church is now debt free.
