The Union Congregational Church of Green Bay, Wisconsin, one of the oldest churches in Wisconsin, was founded on September 21, 1835 as the First Presbyterian Church. The congregation of twelve members called the Rev. Cutting Marsh, a missionary from the American Missionary Society to the Stockbridge Indians. During the congregation's earliest days Marsh came to Green Bay at six-week intervals and preached at services conducted in the military hospital at Fort Howard.
In 1838 the congregation built its first church, a meetinghouse-style structure on the corner of Crooks and Adams Streets. A year later the congregation completed organization of typical Presbyterian polity with the formation of the First Presbyterian Society which was responsible for church property and funds.
In 1840 the congregation called the Rev. Jeremiah Porter, and under his leadership participated in what was known as the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin.
In 1880 the church and parsonage were destroyed by fire. A new building at the same location was dedicated on April 2, 1882.
In 1899 the church adopted a new constitution which altered its organizational structure and a new name, the Union Congregational Church. The congregation also adopted a “Bond of Union” as a basic tenet of the church. These changes reflected the general predominance of Congregational churches in Wisconsin, the desire for a more representative polity, and the more liberal theology of the ministers called to serve the church during the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Membership grew rapidly during the early twentieth century, and during the 1920s demands began for a new building. This new building at Spring and Madison Streets was dedicated in 1930. Unfortunately the event coincided with the Depression, and for the next twenty years a major concern was paying off the mortgage. During the late 1940s and 1950s membership growth was again sufficient to necessitate additional space and in 1955 the congregation dedicated its Mayflower Wing.
In 1961 the congregation voted to oppose the proposed constitution of the United Church of Christ, the national merger of the Congregational Christian and the Evangelical and Reformed churches. After extended discussions during the intervening period, in 1964 the congregation voted to join the United Church of Christ. However, approximately 300 of the members resigned and formed the Pilgrim Congregational Church.
For researchers requiring a more detailed history of the congregation several publications and historical talks are contained within the collection.
