In September, 1960, Johnson Bible College in Knoxville felt that a new congregation should be established in the Oak Ridge-Clinton area of East Tennessee. They found three families in the area that would support such a move by being the nucleus of the new church. The three families were: the Vestal Austins, the Fred Backs, and the Carl Bridges. These three families met with the New Church Committee of the Smoky Mountain Men's Fellowship in early October of that year with Keith McCaslin, to see if Mr. McCaslin would be interested in being the evangelist for the new church work. At this meeting it was agreed to begin the church and Mr. McCaslin was called to lead in this work as the first minister.

The first Sunday in January was set as the first official meeting of the church body. On Thursdays the group met for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. During this interval between October and January 1, attendance averaged about 15 in the Thursday sessions and meetings were conducted in a different home each week.

Mr. and Mrs. McCaslin came to Tennessee from Berea, Kentucky, the first of the year of 1961. The first Sunday meeting was held January 1, 1961, in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Hall with 27 people attending. Fifteen of these became members that first day, 13 by transfer and two by baptism. The two baptized were Dick Brown and Charles Austin.

On April 1, 1962, the church voted to purchase the old Playhouse building at 637 Robertsville Road and remodel it into a church building. After much work the building was used for the first time for worship on June 16, 1963. During the summer of 1964 a new church was started at Claxton with 26 members from West Village Church leaving to be charter members of the church there.

After Mr. McCaslin's resignation, Mr. Mayo Proctor came from New Tazewell as minister in August of 1965.

On March 16, 1968, Benic Hampton, Jr., performed the first wedding at the church uniting Lynn Gibson and Roger Christman in marriage.

In 1968 the youth of the church participated in the Bible Bowl at the North American Christian Convention, in Cincinnati, Ohio. This convention is an annual meeting of the Christian Churches throughout the world.

Mr. Proctor left in 1966 to join Johnson Bible College. Mr. Howard Chartier, from Palamer, Nebraska, was called as minister and served until 1970.

Ronald Blevens was called to serve as minister in July, 1970. He was a native of Kingsport. He served the congregation until 1975. Under his ministry, the church became debt-free and had note-burning service on July 2, 1972.

Don Bullock was called as minister in October of 1975. Mr. Bullock holds degrees from Kentucky Christian College, Grayson, Kentucky, and St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He had held ministries in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan.

Mr. Bullock retired from the active pulpit ministry in 1995, preaching his last sermon as senior minister of the congregation on March 26th. Don continued to serve as "Minister Emeritus" until his passing in the summer of 2005.

On April 2nd of 1995, Noel Kirk assumed the pulpit duties at West Village. Noel and his wife, Rose Ann, have three grown children.  Mr. Kirk resigned the pulpit to join a new church work at Pigeon Forge, TN. He preached his last sermon at West Village on August 4, 2002.  

In 2002-2003, West Village had David Wheeler of Johnson Bible College as an interim minister.

In April of 2003, Brian Lakin came to WVCC.  He is our current minister.  Read about Brian and his family by clicking here.

West Village has historically included part-time youth ministers of outstanding quality in the church staff. In May of 1998, the congregation called Greg Pitner as its first full-time Associate Minister for Youth. In April of 2002 the church called Joshua Hensley to serve as Youth and Children’s Minister.

An active children’s ministry is a key part of the ministry of West Village. Area children and parents anticipate the summer Vacation Bible School. It has become the major outreach of the congregation. The majority of the congregation actively participates in this annual ministry.

The Church program has an active women's group, known as The Willing Workers' Circle. They meet each month.

The church broke ground in January of 1992, to build a new sanctuary. The new building was occupied for worship on May 2, 1993.

This church is one of thousands known as the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, and is patterned after the church of the New Testament. It is composed of immersed believers in Christ. There is no claim to being the only Christians but a desire to be Christians only, by wearing His name only and exalting the name of Christ in word and deed.

The members proclaim the same terms of admission to the church as was practiced during the New Testament period. They declare that one must hear the gospel, believe in Christ, repent of one's sins, confess Christ before men and be baptized.  In matters of government the congregation is completely autonomous with an elected board of elders and deacons to direct the spiritual and business affairs of the church. Members join hands and hearts with all baptized believers and are determined not make any matter a test of fellowship on which the Lord has not clearly spoken. The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is practiced weekly and all believers are invited to partake, whether members of the local congregation or not.