First Congregational United Church of Christ
Decatur, IL 62526-1450 217.877.2216
What We Believe

1. This church recognizes the Bible as the sufficient rule of faith and practice, and holds that living in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ is the true test of fellowship. Each member shall have the undisturbed right to follow the word of God according to the dictates of his/her own personal conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. The following statement of faith, therefore, is not a test but an expression of the spirit in which the church interprets the word of God.
2. We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father, and to his deeds we testify; he calls the worlds into being, creates man in his own image, and sets before him the ways of life and death. He seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. He judges men and nations by his righteous will declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, he has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to himself. He bestows upon us His Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the Church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races. He calls us into his Church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be his servants in the service of men, to proclaim the Gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory. He promises, to all who trust him, forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, his presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in his kingdom which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto him! Amen. (Original 1959 Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ)
Our History

First Congregational Church of Decatur, Illnois was chartered on December 9, 1888 with 37 members. The first building site was at the northwest corner of Church and Eldorado Streets. The ground was broken on Aprill 22, 1890 for the auditorium section. In addition to the $3,470 for the lot, the building cost was $10,000.
On February 22, 1902, it was voted to build the two-story addition for $15,000 that would house Sunday school, dining room and kitchen. At the same time an organ was installed in the sanctuary.
A 15-acre tract was purchased in the 3400 block of North MacArthur Road for $21,500 and construction of the new building was begun April 1957. The cost was $293,000, in turn, the downtown church was sold to Antioch Baptist Chuch for $60,000. Membership had grown to 454 in 1962 and even further to 500. Education space was needed and plans for an addition was made. Membership grew to 636 in 1968.