 |
1832 Group of settlers from New
England began to worship together. They formed a temperance society, a
Sunday school, and distributed a monthly Biblical newsletter. |
|
1833 Our congregation of about a
dozen families adopts a covenant and articles of faith. Three elders are
elected. The church is then known as the Presbyterian Church of DuPage. Rev.
Jeremiah Porter is the pastor. |
|
1834 Church adopts Congregational
structure |
|
1835 Congregational Union of Fox
River formed (4 churches, predecessor of Fox Valley Association) |
|
1837 Former pastor J. Porter
delivers keynote speech at synod meeting in Springfield vigorously attacking
slavery and has to be bodily shielded from pro-slavery delegates |
|
1845 Land for our church building
donated by Morris Sleight with the following conditions:
 |
No burials on the property |
|
There will always be a bell tower
and bell |
|
|
1859 Congregation tries a member
for dancing and sending his children to dancing schools (not our practice
today!) |
|
1906 Present church building
dedicated
|
Cost of $24,000 |
|
Beautiful stained glass windows |
|
"And may the beauty of this edifice
be ever symbolic of the beauty of holiness that dwells with God's people in
his temple." |
|
|
1920 Active Young People's Society |
|
1930 Parish hall for Sunday school
space, pastor's apartment on the upper floor. |
|
1933 100th Anniversary |
|
1951 Parsonage purchased on Wright
street, pastor's apartment converted to Sunday school space |
|
1957 Synod votes to merge
Congregational Christian and Evangelical & Reformed denominations to form the
UCC (E&R congregations such as St. John's become UCC automatically,
Congregational Christian churches each must vote to join) |
|
1962 Creation of North Room Parlor |
|
1966 Church joins Chicago
Metropolitan Association, leaving Fox Valley Association |
|
1966 Church split over joining the
UCC, Members who leave form Naperville Congregational Church |
|
1971 Parsonage sold |
|
1975-6 Church sponsors and provides
housing for Vietnamese family |
|
1978 Major sanctuary remodeling and
expansion to the north |
|
1978 New community room and
education building |
|
1983 150th Anniversary |
|
1980s Congregation votes to give 25%
of operating budget in missions to others |
|
1989 Congregation votes to become a
Just Peace Church with the adoption of a Justice and Peace Covenant |
|
1991 Language Task Force recommends
a set of guidelines for use of inclusive and traditional language in worship |
|
1992 Church joins the Fox Valley
Association |
|
1993 Congregation approves the
mission statement |
|
1994 Porter room remodeled, ramps
added, office and library expansion |
|
1997 Congregation approves the
vision statement |
|
1997 Congregation votes to become
Open and Affirming |
|
1999
Stained Glass Window rededication |
|
2003 Congregation votes to send a
proposed Resolution to the UCC Synod on "An
Alternative Voice to Christian Zionism" |
|
2005 Youth Mission Trip to Back Bay
Mission, Biloxi, MS - One month prior to Hurricane Katrina devastates the
entire region |
|
2006 Sanctuary rededication - 100
years old |
