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First Congregational Church of Naperville, a United Church of Christ, and another Naperville church that also started meeting in 1832. Our church was organized with a charter in 1833, making it the oldest church of any kind in DuPage county. First Congregational Church was the first Congregational church in northern Illinois. Our church has witnessed the development of the region, the rapid growth in population, dramatic changes in employers, the civil rights movement, and the challenges of our world in the 21st century. First Congregational Church has a history of being on the leading edge of social justice both in words and deeds beginning with the abolitionist movement and the underground railroad. Some examples include: participation in civil rights demonstrations, sponsorship of a Vietnamese refugee family, support of a grass roots recycling program, welcoming of gay and lesbian people, opening our doors every Wednesday evening for homeless people to find shelter, being intentional with the language we use to be inclusive of all people, and letter writing to various officials on a variety of social issues. Our church sponsored a resolution at the UCC General Synod XXIV on "An Alternative Voice to Christian Zionism" which passed. Here are a few historical highlights of the church. The congregation began worshiping together in 1832. On July 13, 1833, the Rev. Jeremiah Porter served communion under the branches of a large oak tree on the banks of the DuPage River. He wrote, "the grain of the mustard seed, we trust, will become a great tree and multitudes shall yet rest under its delightful shade." In 1837 Rev. Porter delivered a keynote speech at the synod meeting in Springfield vigorously attacking slavery and had to be bodily shielded from pro-slavery delegates. The church has been on its present site since 1846. The land for our church building was donated by Morris Sleight under the conditions that there would be no burials on the property and that there would always be a bell tower with a bell. Our sanctuary, with its beautiful stained glass windows, and ceiling which looks like an inverted Noah's Ark, was completed in 1906. The dedication: "And may the beauty of this edifice be ever symbolic of the beauty of holiness that dwells with God's people in his temple." The church became part of the United Church of Christ (UCC) in 1961. We will celebrate our 175th Anniversary in 2008. For more detailed information on all aspects of our church history, please browse our history section of this website. Please explore our entire website to find out how God is still speaking.....today! |
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