The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is one of the largest Protestant groups that started in the U.S. It began in 1832 when two religious movements joined together—one led by Barton Stone in Kentucky and the other by Thomas and Alexander Campbell in Pennsylvania and Western Virginia. Alexander Campbell, who lived in Bethany (Brooke County), became a key leader, and the town became the center of the movement.

The group officially took the name Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1968. Its goal has always been to unite all Christians by focusing on Jesus and the New Testament. Members welcome different beliefs, practice baptism by immersion, and invite all Christians to take part in communion.

Membership grew quickly in the 1800s, reaching almost 200,000 by 1860. They held their first national meeting in 1849 and now have a structured organization at local, regional, and national levels. Today, over one million members are in the U.S. and Canada, with about 11,000 in West Virginia.