North Christian Church purchased the lot at the corner of Payne's Avenue and Christiana Street for $1,710 and started building its first home. That church building was dedicated on January 28, 1890. It cost $11,496.

From the outside, it looked like things were going smoothly at the church. But the insiders knew better. There was a falling out between B. L. Rand and George F. Rand, Sr. They no longer seemed to be able to worship together. So, George F. Rand, Sr. decided to establish another congregation.

On February 19, 1899 George F. Rand, Sr. organized a Mission Sunday School. He purchased an old bar and tavern and had it moved across the street to the corner of Oliver and Wheatfield Streets. The mission was a success and a church was officially organized with 46 charter members. They named themselves the Central Church of Christ. In 1902, Central Church of Christ erected on the opposite corner of Oliver and Wheatfield Streets its first building, a church school, at a cost of $20,000. It was called The Tabernacle. The assembly room had a seating capacity of 690 and was often filled to capacity. The Tabernacle boasted its own orchestra. Plans were drawn up for a Spanish style sanctuary wing, but it was never built.

In 1919, while touring war-torn Europe, George F. Rand, Sr. was killed in an airplane crash in France. His children made a gift of $50,000 to the Tabernacle to construct a new, modern church building as a memorial to their parents.

George F. Rand, Jr. was very wealthy. He and his family lived in a stone mansion on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. (His home is Canisius High School today.) In the 1920's George, Jr. and his wife would have the members of the congregation come to their home for dinner. The church guests would all sit in the Rand's ballroom and were served goat cheese sandwiches (Mrs. Rand's favorite).