The Duncan Banner

Local News

Related Photos

  • Celebrating West Side Christian Church's upcoming 60th anniversary will be several charter members, as well as few new ones. Pictured is back row left to right: Terry Schlein, Helen Townsend, Louise Bolles, Marlene Reynolds, Shannon Meadows; front row l-r: Jeanie Jones, Janet Rosine, Bill Schlein, Renee Shlein, Aliene Thornton and Barbara Snodgrass. Rebeka Rutledge/The Duncan Banner

    3-15 West Side Christian.jpg
March 15, 2013

West Side Christian Church to celebrate 60th anniversary

Rebeka Rutledge The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Starting out in a barracks building may sound like shaky ground for a start-up church, however, that’s where West Side Christian Church began and it will soon celebrate its 60th anniversary.

A women’s study group from First Christian Church got together in 1945 and decided that there needed to be a church started for the opposite side of town from their location to reach children and the “unchurched.”

“I love that term ‘unchurched,’ I had never heard it before,” said Terry Schlein, pastor for WSCC. “They wanted the church to be open to everyone and for them to feel welcome and the church is the same way today.”

Schlein’s parents, Bill and Renee Schlein, are charter members of the church. Before WSCC came to its current location at 1801 Beech, it moved several times after the barracks. First to the top floor of Irving School, then to Emerson Elementary and on to Mark Twain Elementary.

“The lots for this building were bought in 1951,” said Renee Schlein. “It was a rural location back then.”

Construction for the first small building on Beech finished a couple years later.

“The men would work on it at night while the women sat outside in lawn chairs and watched,” longtime member Marlene Reynolds said.

Since then, several expansions and remodels have taken place and iconic aspects have been added through the memorial fund such as the steeple, stained glass windows, street sign and marquee.

One of the most unique features of the church is the mural inside the baptistry, which was painted by church member Aliene Thorton in 1968. If looked at from the side, two faces can be seen in the clouds, that of God and of Jesus.

“We had just gotten a National Geographic about Israel and that’s where I got my ideas from,” said Thorton.

Though they’re not sure how many members began with the church, there is now 292 in the books. Rev. Schlein said he guesses that over the years there may have been as many as 2,000 people involved in the church.

On Palm Sunday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m., Rev. Schlein and his congregation are inviting the public to the church’s 60th anniversary celebration. Though they will have a traditional Palm Sunday service, Schlein said he plans on incorporating some of the church’s history.

After the service, there will be a catered luncheon and slide show of photos from the past. Members will be able to share their memories of the church.

“I think it’s a   to how long the church has survived,” said Schlein. “We’re a really close knit family and if anything ever needs to be done, someone figures out how to get it done.”

Text Only
Local News
  • Jack Braught 2013 Crossman winner.jpg Duncan's Jack Braught named 2013 Crossman Award winner

    Jack Braught was named the 2013 Crossman Award winner during an awards assembly Friday at the Duncan High School.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 3-28 Crossman Nominees.jpg Crossman Award presentation today

    Today, one of five nominated senior students at Duncan High School will be named the Crossman recipient. The awards event is scheduled for 12:45 at the DHS auditorium.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-17 Farm to You5230.jpg Farm to You visits area schools

    In Farm to You program’s fourth year to come to Stephens County, it made an appearance at Marlow and Plato elementary schools.
    A collaborative effort of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, OSU Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and Southwest Dairy Farmers, the primary focus is to teach children where their food comes from and how to eat healthy.
    “We were excited about this program coming,” said Cathy Duke, Plato teacher.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Vote reflects community’s attitude

    Disappointment.
    That’s the sentiment of city leaders following the defeated streets and road election Tuesday that only pulled in 1,507 registered voters in a city with 16,098 active voters.

    May 17, 2013

  • Agritourism bill provides protection

    Much recent state legislature has been focusing on helping out family-owned small businesses and the agritourism industry is in the process of being included in these measures.

    May 17, 2013

  • 5-17 Maple Crossing.jpg Maple RR crossing to stay closed

    The closed railroad crossing at Maple Avenue was a point of contention with two Duncan residents, when they spoke to the Duncan City Council on Tuesday.
    Norma and Marian Lennox discussed their concerns during the council’s regular meeting, and expressed their desire to reopen the railroad crossing.
    “We need that street back open,” Norma Lennox said.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Senator Inhofe key speaker at GOP Fish Fry

    Republicans from throughout Oklahoma will gather Saturday at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center in Duncan, for the 9th annual GOP Fish Fry. This year, they will get a chance to hear U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, as he is the keynote speaker and is expected to arrive just before 5 p.m. for the event.
    Inhofe, R-Tulsa, is a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and has been instrumental in the passing of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013, or S. 601. The measure passed 83-14 in the Senate on Wednesday and authorizes new projects for water infrastructure for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

    May 17, 2013

  • Veterans hope to reach out to homeless peers

    Local veterans will be heading to Lawton Friday in hopes of connecting and helping homeless veterans.

    May 16, 2013

  • Tornado hits Granbury, Texas Tornadoes tear through East Texas; 6 people killed

    A pack of tornadoes killed at least six people and injured dozens more in East Texas Wednesday night.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • 5-16 FAME Art Show1.jpg FAME Academy students host art show

    Creative minds are at work at FAME Academy.
    And Wednesday’s art show was a display of those creative minds in action, as the students showed off the masterpieces they had created throughout the school year. The various art media ranged from fabric art to pottery to crochet.

    May 16, 2013 3 Photos