1865-1888
On July 8, 1860, 17 charter members formally organized the Congregational Church of Cedar Falls with minister L.B. Fifield. For the first four years, services were held mainly in Miner Hall on Main Street. In 1864, the Congregationalists bought the Methodist church building located at the corner of Sixth & Clay Streets. The frame church was enlarged to accommodate the growing membership and was used for 24 years, and welcomed minister Charles Gibbs.
1888-1959
In 1888, the Reverend Samuel Beach said it was "not enough to sit in that old house and look pious," and that the time for action had come. On February 8, 1888, the members decided to build a new church. The Boulder Church was designed by a New York architect and constructed for $13,000. The last service was held in the Frame Church on July 7, 1889, and, the next evening, the Boulder Church was dedicated. As the years passed, the membership continued to grow. The need for additional Sunday School space prompted members to add an educational unit, which was built under the guidance of minister E.D. Hughes, and dedicated November 6, 1955 (with minister Kenneth Cook).
The 1959 Fire
Disaster struck the church on November 16, 1959, when the Boulder Church caught fire and burned to the ground. The educational unit was saved from total destruction, but, until the damage to that structure was repaired, services were held at Peet Junior High School. Once the educational unit was usable, the congregation worshipped there, and began building a new church home. Today, the former educational unit serves our community as the Medical Associates building.
1962-Present
On November 15, 1960, the congregation voted to build a new church, and, on September 17, 1961, minister Randall Teeuwen presided over the ground breaking for the new $224,000 church. The building at 9204 University Avenue was dedicated on November 18, 1962. During this time of rebuilding, the national Congregationalist church body was merging with the Evangelical and Reformed Church, creating the United Church of Christ.