Beginning on Savage Road
Essex Village Church of Christ sits on Savage Road in West Ashley, serving the Charleston, South Carolina area since 1962. The congregation started with only a handful of people and moved into its current building in 1972, with the original structure then transitioned into the education wing. An annex followed a few years later. The campus continues to host a Church of Christ congregation that traces its roots back through nearly two thousand years of Christian history to the church established on the day of Pentecost in A.D. 33.
Sunday Bible Class and Morning Assembly
Worship on Sunday unfolds in two parts. Bible classes for every age group begin at 9:00 AM, and the morning assembly follows at 10:00 AM. A livestream on YouTube carries both the Sunday and Wednesday gatherings for members who are traveling or homebound.
Following the New Testament pattern, the congregation is nondenominational and adheres to the teachings of Jesus as found in the Bible. Members are known simply as Christians, the name first given to disciples in Antioch (Acts 11:26). The foundation of the church is Christ himself, and no other guide or authority is followed besides the inspired Scriptures.
Wednesday Nights in the Education Wing
Wednesday evening classes meet at 6:30 PM and provide a second structured opportunity for study during the week. Combined with the Sunday morning hour, they form the steady rhythm of instruction for adults and children alike. Textual and topical classes continue on the adult level, and special studies on grief, Christian evidences, marriage, and other subjects are presented as the need arises.
Classes for Every Age
The education wing houses classes from the cradle through senior adults, with several teachers serving each grouping. Children learn in age-appropriate classrooms while adults dig into book-by-book and topical Bible studies. The elders of the congregation oversee the program and work to make sure every age group receives strong teaching.
A Year of Gathering
Beyond the weekly services, the calendar fills with annual traditions that draw the wider church family together. Vacation Bible School runs each summer, the Ladies Retreat brings women together for a weekend of fellowship and teaching, and Bible Bowl turns Scripture memory into a friendly competition. Gospel meetings feature well-known preachers from the wider Churches of Christ fellowship, and youth activity trips run throughout the year. A fall festival and potluck, monthly men's breakfasts, and ladies' brunches round out the rhythm of the seasons.
Plan of Salvation
Essex Village teaches the same steps to salvation found in the New Testament: hear the Gospel, believe, repent of sins, confess Jesus as Lord, be baptized for the remission of sins, and live a Christian life. Each step is laid out with the scripture passages that describe it, including Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:14, Hebrews 11:6, Acts 17:30, Acts 8:36-37, Acts 2:38, and 1 Peter 2:9.
Sending Out and Welcoming In
Over the decades, the congregation has contributed to and supported many other congregations locally and internationally. Missionaries have gone out from Essex Village to preach the gospel around the world, and visiting preachers have come in for gospel meetings, workshops, youth gatherings, and seminars. Christian women from across the brotherhood have spoken for special ladies' events.
Visiting the Building
Essex Village Church of Christ is located at 736 Savage Road, Charleston, SC 29414. The office number is (843) 556-1792. Those curious about the Bible are invited to come as they are, sit in on a class, and join the assembly.