United Church of Christ

The religious heritage of the United Church of Church stems from the great traditions of the Protestant Reformation: Congregational, Lutheran and Calvinist. These traditions were brought to America by Protestants fleeing persecution in Europe. The Puritans brought Congregational beliefs to Massachusetts in 1620 on the Mayflower. In 1931 the Congregational churches united with the Christian Church, which grew out of a movement begun in America in 1794, to form the Congregational Christian Churches. In 1725 German immigrants brought the German Reformed Church with them to our shores. That was followed in 1800 by the German Evangelical Church. In 1934 those churches united to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957 the Congregational Christian Churches united with the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ (UCC). Our denomination is thus a merger of four different faith traditions, a faith community that encourages Christians to unite and promote their mutual beliefs, rather than focus on differences among Christian denominations. Our church is part of the Indiana-Kentucky UCC Conference, headquartered in Indianapolis. The United Church of Christ maintains an ecumenical emphasis in its combined mission work with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Mission projects and resources outside the U.S. have been united under one leadership supported by both denominations. In addition, UCC and Disciples ministers may serve in churches of either denomination.

First Congegrational Church

Plymouth Congregational Church began in 1857 on what is now Monument Circle. In 1884 it moved to Meridian and New York streets and later to 14th and Central, where it was joined by North Congregational (a merger of Olivet and Fellowship churches). In 1908 Plymouth Church united with Mayflower Congregational Church (est. 1869) and located at 16th and Delaware. The new name chosen was First Congregational Church of Indianapolis. We moved to our present location in 1957 and became a member of the United Church of Christ in 1960. We are a United Church of Christ congregation but retained our historical name, First Congregational Church.