United. This is who we are.

“We are a diverse, Christ-centered people, learning together and reaching out to serve the community in faith, hope, and love.“
                                                                                        -- Guiding Vision

It's not a book of platitudes. Its stories help guide us toward aligning our choices with our values.

Applied together, they create meaningful, personalized spiritual experiences.

Stereotypes, profiling and labels limit human possibility. We nurture the integrity of the individual.

Small miracles arise from collaboration.

God is still speaking.

Mercy, humility and justice.

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COVID-19 cannot stop us from doing and experiencing God's love and creation. We worked and achieved a lot in 2021. There will be more in 2022 and we are glad that you will be with us too. 

​Thanks for all who made this possible!

We're proud of our past.

In 1858, lawyer, developer and staunch abolitionist Paul Cornell donated land for a Presbyterian church in Hyde Park, a known destination on the Underground Railroad, thanks to his associates, including the sheriff.

In 1862, we opened one of Hyde Park’s first Sunday schools to provide religious instruction during the early days of public education.

In 1869, the Old Stone Church opened at our current location, replacing the wood frame structure a few blocks away.

In 1889, we completed construction on our current structure, the same year Hyde Park was annexed to the City of Chicago.

In 1890, the University of Chicago was founded by J.D. Rockefeller, pictured here with its President W.R. Harper and trustee Martin Ryerson. We changed our name to University Congregational Church.

During the 1920s, we did an extensive renovation to our current building configuration. We were also among the first to include women on our governing board.

During the 1930s, we helped fight the ravages of the Great Depression, support African American families migrating from the south and united the Congregational and Presbyterian churches of Hyde Park into one.

During the late 1940s, we helped resettle Japanese Americans relocating from U.S. internment camps after the war.

During the 1950s, we were among the first to integrate our church school, ahead of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision.

Today, we still march for what matters, standing with those on the margins as we always have, to promote a more just and kind society.