Lees Creek United Church of Christ closes after nearly two centuries 

By Dana Dunn

Lees Creek United Church of Christ (UCC) held its last worship service on Sunday, Sept. 21, ending nearly 195 years of service since its founding as Centerville Christian Church in 1830.  

Through generations of worship, fellowship, and service, the church has been a spiritual home and gathering place for countless families. Over its long history, 50 pastors have shepherded the congregation. 

Remarkably, for the church’s first 117 years, there was no full-time minister.  

The Rev. Connor Thompson, who has served as minister during this period of transition, delivered the sermon for the closing service. He shared that, “God’s love was spoken from this pulpit one final time, just as it has been for the last 195 years.”  

The service also featured special guests from the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association and the Heartland Conference of the United Church of Christ, who offered prayers and words of blessing as the congregation concluded its ministry. Former Pastor the Rev. Craig Showalter and his wife were also in attendance, joining members and friends in honoring the church’s rich legacy. 

Although the church will close, its memories will not end and its legacy will continue to benefit the community of Lees Creek and beyond. 

Rachelle Priest, a senior at Ohio University, grew up in the Lees Creek church. “It is where I learned who Jesus is and where I found my church family,” she said. “Some of my favorite memories in church were the times I would sing with my grandfather while my grandmother played the piano. Those moments brought me closer to my grandparents. I will always cherish the friendships I found through Sunday School and the bond I developed with my Sunday School teacher. Lees Creek UCC gave me countless memories that I will hang onto forever.” 

Eight-year-old Wesley Henry, the youngest member of the church, is maybe the most disappointed with its closing. “I don’t care if there aren’t 100s of people, I just want to come to my church every Sunday,” he said. 

Wesley’s comments hint at the crucial circumstances that have caused the church to close. “The reasons we’ve closed our church are because of decline in attendance and participation, the age of members, and the lack of young families and children,” said member Linda Compton.  

The Lees Creek Church is not alone. An estimated 15,000 churches are expected to close in 2025. The National Council of Churches projects that up to 100,000 churches may close in the coming years. For every new church that opens, three are closing. Church membership has dropped significantly, especially among Millennials and Gen Z. Weekly attendance among Gen Z fell from 22% in 2020 to 16% in 2023, according to sources. Gen Z includes those born between 1995 and 2015, while Millennials were born between 1980 and 1994. 

“We are donating our church property to East Clinton Schools to renovate as an administrative building - a critical need for the district,” Compton said. The church’s remaining resources will be used to support the Sabina Public Library, the New Vienna Public Library, scholarships administered through the Clinton County Foundation, and other community organizations and projects. 
  
Thompson said, “The spirit of Lees Creek UCC lives on through its people. Many members will continue their faith journeys in other congregations, carrying with them nearly two centuries of shared memories, relationships, and ministry.” 

Jayne Garber, the church’s oldest member at 96, says the closing was “bittersweet” but seemed inevitable. She is glad that the church’s resources can be put to good use in the community. “And we were fortunate to have Pastor Connor to help us through a tough time,” Garber said. “He is well-liked, and I think many of our members will be sitting in the pews at First Christian Church.” 

Thompson was the new pastor of the First Christian Church in Wilmington when in 2023 he began to also minister at the Lees Creek United Church of Christ. “It all started almost by accident — a passing comment to Joan Hinman while the garden club was meeting at First Christian Church,” Thompson said. 

“I mentioned that the only Disciples congregation and the only UCC congregation in Clinton County ought to find ways to strengthen our bond. Lees Creek had just entered a transition as their pastor moved on, and before I knew it, an arrangement was in place for me to share Sunday mornings with both congregations. 

“Over these two years, our congregations have worshiped together, shared fellowship, sang hymns, prayed, laughed, and learned from one another,’ Rev. Thompson said. “I came to love Lees Creek not as a guest, but as part of its story. When I told the congregation in January that 2025 would be my last year with them, I thought I was simply making a necessary decision. What I didn’t expect was the sense of loss that would come with it. 

“Like some of the families who count eight generations in their pews, I grieved as the congregation prepared to close. To be their pastor in this closing season has been a gift – humbling, holy, and one I will carry with me always.”