History of the United Church of Christ
Medford Wisconsin

The United Church of Christ was born when separate churches, some dating back as far as 1620, came together in 1957. Congregational Churches which incorporated Calvinist, Puritan and Congregational beliefs began their influence when Puritans came to Massachusetts and united to begin North American Congregationalism in the 1620s.

Congregational Methodists joined that group in 1892, followed by Evangelical Protestants in 1925 and German Congregationalists in 1927. The German Reformed Church of the United States, which followed Calvinist beliefs and traditions included German immigrants who established congregations in 1725.

The Christian Churches comprised of O'Kelly "Christians" formed in 1794, the First Free Christian Church in Vermont in 1801, and the American Christian Convention of churches in the Northeast by 1850. The Southern Christian Convention was formed in 1854. In 1922 the Christian Church was organized.

The Evangelical Synod in North America identified with Lutherans, Reformed and other beliefs. In the 1800s German immigrants established churches in the Midwest. In 1931, the Congregational Churches of the Christian Churches became the Congregational Christian Churches. In 1934, the German Reformed Church and the Evangelical Synod became the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957 these churches from the Evangelical, Reformed, Christian and Congregational joined to form the United Church of Christ.

The United Church of Christ is a united and uniting church comprised of over 6300 congregations nationwide. We do not have Bishops and we do not have a pope. These facts politely distinguish us from that of the Anglicans and Roman Catholics, for example.

Our church in Medford was built in 1901 and at present our membership approximates two hundred and fifty. Others also attend worship regularly or periodically.

The history of our congregation includes clear indications that our members are capable of vision, cooperation and accomplishment. Although our membership is stable there is plenty of room for growth and we extend an open invitation and welcome to all who may be interested in worshipping with us.