Vancouver United Church of Christ is a place easy to feel at home, even when its home is changing.
Organized originally in 1891 by a group of Vancouver people with a desire for a liberal church home, the church has gone through several names and locations in its lifetime. Regardless of what it has been called or where it has been located, the Vancouver UCC is at the intersection of justice and faith.
An early church document notes that “our membership has, from the beginning, been characterized by strong lay participation.” That willingness by our members to pitch in and help, regardless of the task or situation, has made all the difference in both the work we are able to do as well as who we are able to be as a church in our community.
The original church was a group of twenty Vancouverites, meeting at the Knights of Pythian Hall. Their first service was on February 22, 1891 and they called themselves “The Pilgrim Congregational Church.” Over time, people came and went, but eventually in November of 1905, the church re-energized and reorganized itself as the First Congregational Church. Land was purchased at 14th and Main Streets and the original church building’s cornerstone was finally laid on May 15, 1910.
The congregation worshiped in that building until the late 1950s when the decision was made to relocate. It was a time when the whole world was looking to the future and the First Congregational Church of Vancouver was no different. In 1959, their iconic building was designed to gather their community while evoking the spirit of God in a cathedral-like setting. Some view the church as a dove while others view it as an ark. And it was in this deeply symbolic building that First Congregational Church evolved into the First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) of Vancouver.
From 1961 until May 25, 2016, the First Congregational UCC of Vancouver provided Vancouver and SW Washington with a voice for God’s people and a place for those people to put into action. They were Open and Affirming, a Just Peace Church, marched for Marriage Equality, and supported local environmental and labor issues. And then in the early morning hours of May 25th, an arson fire consumed the western end of the building. The fire destroyed the roof’s iconic stained glass window as well as the sacristy. First Congregational UCC of Vancouver continued to worship in rented spaces and under a white tent on the property. While the church building is being updated to meet current congregational and building code needs, the church also embraced the nickname of “Vancouver UCC” which is how the church is often noted in the conference and community. Never have our tireless volunteers been more of a help than while we’ve been “homeless.”
The Vancouver UCC youth group paints the storage container.
In spite of being without a building for over two years, the Vancouver UCC is proud of their continued tradition to share the love of God and teachings of Jesus Christ to the community of Vancouver and SW Washington. This is a place we are happy to call home and where we are always happy to make another space at Christ’s table of grace.