The First Congregational Church was founded on April 21, 1872, shortly after the founding of the City of Riverside, when a few of the early settlers banded together and became the first organized church in Riverside. The following year, they constructed the first church building. Since it was constructed with community-wide support and also served other faiths, it was called the First Church of Christ in Riverside. In 1887, the Congregationalists moved to the present site and constructed a wooden Gothic-style church.
Some Memorable Dates
April 21, 1872
Founding of the church.
March 23, 1873
First church building dedicated, Sixth and Vine.
June 12, 1887
Second church building dedicated, Seventh and Lemon.
December 1, 1912
Laying of cornerstone for new church.
January 25, 1914
Dedication of the present building.
December, 1941
Pilgrim Hall and kitchen leased to U.S. Government for use during World War II.
April 20, 1947
Seventy-fifth Anniversary Celebration, and dedication of memorial stained glass windows.
April 9, 1950
Dedication of the Great Cross.
March 22, 1959
Dedication of Austin pipe organ.
February, 1970
Plymouth Tower, a facility for seniors established by the Church and the Retirement Housing Foundation, open for occupancy.
1984
"Project: Food", a meal program for the homeless, began
1989
Carillon installed in the Tower.
1988
Founding of Circle of Friends, who assists members going through a life crisis
March 19, 1995
Became an "open and affirming" congregation, affirming the dignity and worth of all races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.
1997
Celebrated our 125th Anniversary year by:
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April: published The Lighted Cross: The Next 25 Years, 1972 to 1997
April: the main building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places
May: partly from a bequest from Winifred King and a penny-drive by the Church School children and youth group, the church's first stained glass window, Sistine Madonna, was restored and dedicated on Mother's Day. The Sistine Madonna is on view in a custom-built light box in the church's parlor.
March 19, 2005
Celebrating 10 year anniversary of becoming open and affirming. Celebration schedule to be announced.