United Church of Christ History

National:

1648- Congregational Churches

Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation, founded 1620, and Puritans of
Massachusetts Bay Colony, founded 1629, united in Cambridge
Platform.

1725- Reform Church

Founded by German settlers from Pennsylvania. It later grew with
the help of Switzerland Settlers.

Late 1700's-Early 1800's Christian Churches

These churches were founded in reaction to theological and
organizational rigity of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist
Churches of the time.

1840- Evangelical Synod of North America

Association of German Evangelical pastors in Missouri. This
group reflects the union of Lutheran and Reformed Churches in
Germany.

1931- Congregational Christian

This union was founded by the unification of the Congregational
Churches and the Christian Churches.

1934- Evangelical and Reformed Church

This church was the result of the German Evangelical Churches
and the German-Swiss Reformed Churches.

1957- United Church of Christ

Resulted from the joining of the Congregational Christian Churches
and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches.

Local:

August 8, 1849-

 

First Reformed Church in Marshall County. They were known as
the Jacoby congregation.

November 6, 1850-

St. John's Congregation was established in same location as
Jacoby congregation.

April 3, 1864-

German United Evangelical St. John's Church was organized.

May 10, 1864-

The House on the corner of Adams and Center Street was
purchased for $600. The house was remodeled for church purposes
until new church was erected.

December 25, 1865-

The Twin Lakes Congregation was organized.

April 1, 1866-

The Zion Reformed Church was established.

August 2, 1868-

Having no money in the treasury, a committee approved to construct
building for German United Evangelical Luthern St. John's Church.

September 16, 1868-

The cornerstone was laid.

August 8, 1969-

The new German United Evangelical Luthren St. John's Church was
dedicated. At this time, enough money had been given to cover all building
debts.

August 22, 1881-

St. Paul's Reformed Church was founded. The first services were held
at St. John's Evangelical Church, located at the corner of Center and
Adams Streets.

July 30, 1885-

Building for St. Paul's Reformed Church began at corner of Adams and
Plum Streets.

October 25, 1885-

The cornerstone was laid.

June 10, 1886-

St. Paul's Reformed Church was completed.

October 1, 1888-

The house, south of the German United Evangelical Luthren Church, was
purchased for parsonage for $2,000. This building later became the
Education building.

1899-

The pews in St. John's Church were divided into three sections. Men
and women were seperated by a wooden bar running down the middle
of the aisle.

1900-

The pipe organ, the first in Plymouth, was installed.

March 1913-

Sermon was given in English for the first time.

1920's-

The sermons at St. John's Evangelical Luthern Church were given in
English and German.

September 10, 1920-

St. John's Evangelical and St. Paul's Reformed Church unite. This took
place fifteen years before national federation. It is thought to have been
the first in the United States.

1923-

Annex was added to the church.

January 8, 1941-

 

Congregation voted to be known as First Evangelical-Reformed Church
of Plymouth, Indiana.

1954-

Excavation of the basement began with much of it being done by hand.
Prior to this there was no exsisting basement.

December 1961-

Chimes were added to the organ.

March 1967-

WTCA began broadcasting Sunday morning services.

1974-

The kitchen in the annex was divided into two rooms, the Pastor's
office and a efficient kitchen, and the education building was torn
down.

1983-

Plymouth First United Church was declared a Marshall County landmark.

October 1983-

House located at 313 Center St. was purchased.

1985-

Began to have two Sunday services to accomodate congregation. The
prayer chain, "On-Call Ministry" was also established.

April 30, 1989-

The new addition, Fellowship Hall, was dedicated.

June 2002-

The house located at 313 Center St. was sold to the City of Plymouth. It
was torn down to expand the city parking lot.