Campbellites are otherwise known as "The Church of Christ," or "The Disciples of Christ," or "The Christian Church," and believe that water baptism is essential to salvation in Jesus Christ. Their history is the story of those who settled the American frontier during the 1800's and their desire for freedom and religious reform.

     Frontier settlers lived simple, practical lives and learned to survive by their own ingenuity. They were intellectually hungry, and many desired a new approach to religion that would free them from existing church structures and creeds that simply did not meet their fundamental needs.

     At a time when Christians in America were divided as the result of denomination ties and loyalties, there were some who called for unity into one Christian Church that would embrace and include all who professed belief in Jesus Christ and who accepted the Bible as the source of Christian learning and living.

     Among this group were four ministers who are usually recognized as the founders of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott.

     Thomas Campbell, a Scotch-Irish minister who came to the United States in 1807 and found himself at odds with the Presbytery over such matters as the nature of faith and the authority of creeds, began meeting independently from his denomination, saying that the church of Jesus Christ should be one and open to all.

     Alexander Campbell, following in his father's footsteps, held public debates which, along with his teaching and writing, propelled him into leadership of a group who called themselves "Disciples of Christ."

     Barton W. Stone, after serving denominational ties with the Presbyterians, called for the unity of all "Christians" by establishing a new church at the Cane Ridge Meetinghouse. He later joined with the Campbellite "Disciples" after agreeing that the two groups held the same fundamental beliefs.

     Walter Scott joined with the Campbells and Stone in helping to spread the message of Christian unity across the American frontier. He is credited with the creation of a simple "five-finger exercise" listing the essential elements of Christianity: faith, repentance, baptism, remission of sins, and guidance by the Holy Spirit.