In 1953, the Missouri District Church of the Nazarene was looking for a building site in South St. Louis County.  At that time, South Side was the only Nazarene church in the southern part of the city of St. Louis, so the search began.  The property was found at 2500 Telegraph Road and was purchased by the District.  Telegraph Road was not heavily populated at that time.  It was just a big, empty, vacant field with a small gas station on the south side.  A Mr. Jacobs planned and built the Telegraph Church of the Nazarene, designed with classrooms in the basement and a parsonage on the second floor.  Rev. Gerald Green was appointed as the first pastor and, in May 1954, Dr. E. D. Simpson, the District Superintendent, chartered and dedicated the church with 12 members.

 

Since that time, several pastors have passed away and are with their Lord:  Rev. Green, Rev. Schaefler, Rev. Holloway, Rev. Sudduth, and Rev. Kneir.  During Rev. Holloway’s leadership, the church expanded, and a new sanctuary was added with a fellowship hall and more classrooms downstairs.  In 1969, the Lemay Church had the privilege of being the “Mother Church” to the Arnold Church of the Nazarene.  Under Rev. Dwight Presson’s ministry, the church grew spiritually as he led the congregation toward being a Holiness people. 

 

Throughout the decades, many pastors have led this church through seasons of prosperity and struggle, the most recent being Rev. Terry Skinner and his wife, Jan.  Many of those still in attendance have been there since the early 1960’s as a testament to this church’s heritage and enduring purpose in the area and the Kingdom.