With open doors and open arms, the Central church of Christ in Tuscaloosa invites you to join us in worship, study and service … we encourage you to join our family and make Central your church home. Expressing His love towards each other, let us overcome the man-made barriers of race, social standing, affluence and creed.

The Central Church of Christ began meeting in 1928 in the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse with less than a dozen members. The facilities were so poor that the congregation began looking for better accomodations

In 1933, with the permission of C.B. Grimes, the congregation began meeting in the Ritz Theatre (later named the Capri Theatre). Despite mice from spilled popcorn and peanuts, the building was air-conditioned and quite an improvement over the court house.

In 1937, a building was acquired at 6th Street and 26th Avenue (no longer standing) and remodeled for the church's use. Some of the walls were removed from the old home, which once belonged to Governor Clement Clay of Madison County from 1835-1837, to make room for a 200 seat auditorium. The church experienced rapid growth and within three years extended the auditorium 20 feet.

O.J. Henley and L. Taggert were the first elders. Brother W.S. Long, the first full-time minister, arrived in 1938.

Over the next 25 years, the Cottondale (1948), Northport (1951), University (1954), Moundville, Alberta (1959), and Westside (1979) congregations were established.

The present building was completed in 1967. The first assembly was held on August 13, with Brother Ray Humphries serving as the minister. An addition to the building, consisting of a gym, new kitchen and several new classrooms, was completed in the summer of 1992.

In April 1996, the High Forest Church of Christ merged with the Central congregation. Approximately 25 families came over. The High Forest elders (Bill Giles and Joe Higgins) joined Central's three elders (Bert English, Don Harris, and John Smelser). High Forest's minister, Norman Berry, became the Family Involvement Minister for the Central congregation.

Due to the merger, the Central Dayschool opened in the Fall of 1996 as a half-day preschool program under the directorship of Erin Jacobs Stripling. The school expanded into a full-time program in the Fall of 1997.

The Central family now averages 350 - 400 in Sunday morning attendance with an annual budget of $527,125. Lee Jamison serves as Minister, Craig Chandler as our Campus Minister, Ray Coast as our Youth Minister, and Julie Wilson as the Dayschool Director.

On August 25, 2002 the Central Student Center opened it's doors for our Campus Ministry.