missions
How to Revitalize a 400-Year-Old Church
By Mia Staub at Christianity Today
· June 30, 2026
· 1 min read
In 2022, when John David Mangrum and his team of elders sat down with the remaining congregants of First Church in Charlestown to discuss merging their historic church with Mangrum’s plant, only two women showed up, including 90-year-old Ms. Pat, who’d attended First Church for nearly a quarter of i
Key takeaway Pat, who’d attended First Church for nearly a quarter of its 400-year history.
Why this matters
The revitalization of a 400-year-old church like First Church in Charlestown poses significant challenges, particularly when the congregation has dwindled to just a handful of members. The fact that only two women, including a 90-year-old lifelong attendee, showed up to discuss a potential merger highlights the urgency of the situation. This scenario is not unique to First Church, as many historic churches in the US face similar struggles with declining membership and aging congregations. The approach taken by John David Mangrum and his team, merging their church plant with the historic church, may offer a viable solution for other struggling churches. The outcome of this effort will be worth watching, as it could provide a model for revitalizing other historic churches and preserving their legacy while also introducing new energy and vitality to their ministries. The success of such mergers will depend on careful planning and sensitivity to the concerns of longtime congregants like Ms. Pat.
About this story
Original reporting by Christianity Today . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Christianity Today . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: missions ·
Published: June 30, 2026 ·
Source: Christianity Today ·
Reading time: 1 min
Get more Christgiving stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering missions and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? In 2022, when John David Mangrum and his team of elders sat down with the remaining congregants of First Church in Charlestown to discuss merging their historic church with Mangrum’s plant, only two women showed up, including 90-year-old Ms. Pat, who’d attended First Church for nearly a quarter of i
When was this published? This article was first published on June 30, 2026 by Christianity Today and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Mia Staub at Christianity Today. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .