This church traces its history to a Disciples of Christ congregation (Christian Union Church) organized near Camden in 1852. When that church disbanded during the early 1870s, its members formed new congregations in other places. The Peatown Christian Church was organized in 1871 with twelve charter members. It drew families from the ante bellum settlement of Edwardsville, commonly known as Peatown, and neighboring rural communities. Its members worshiped in the old Christian Union Church building for over 50 years and held baptisms in the nearby spring.