Our History
Since 1845
Read more about our Historic Building
These shortened stories were taken from the pamphlet called “Stories From The Past”.
The charter congregation of 15 was founded on February 11, 1845. A woman, Eleanor Strunk, was allowed to vote to break a tie. The church became the First Congregational Church instead of a Presbyterian Church. Thirteen of the the fifteen charter members were from New England, and they brought a strong belief with them. The first Covenant of the Church exacted the promise from all who joined its fellowship to abstain from all intoxicating drinks as a beverage and come out strongly against slavery.
The first church building was completed in 1850, and was the building that Abraham Lincoln worshiped in October 2, 1859. That building was taken down and a larger church was built on the same site in 1868. The first church was described as a pile of bricks with dry-goods boxes for a tower. The size of the building was forty by fifty feet. No plans or specifications were used. This building, the current one, suffered a massive fire May 1, 1875 and was rebuilt inside the current stone walls with the sanctuary that you see today.
1848-68 | 1st Congregational Church, Janesville Wisconsin
1888 | 1st Congregational Church, Janesville Wisconsin
1893 | 1st Congregational Church, Janesville Wisconsin
Janesville UCC today
Mr. James dean states that Sunday made a long day in winter, and tried the patience of the younger members of the family. This was a family that believed in going to church, in any fashion and at any cost. Living near Emerald Grove, they drove in state to church in Janesville in a two-wheeled ox cart, brought from Connecticut. It was seated with chairs, and on reaching the church it was backed up to the steps, and the end board was let down and the ladies were gallantly helped out.
Church discipline was strongly enforced. In 1858 Mr. Henry Zader was separated from the church because of his views upon the Second Advent and Conditional Immortality. The church rules name among disciplinable offenses: causing disturbance in the church by promoting discussions and parties, leading an idle and useless life, refusing to bear a reasonable part in supporting and extending the gospel, living in irreconcilable enmity with any of the brethren, neglecting the sacraments of the Christina church, attending or patronizing balls, theatres, the circus or other places of vain and sinful amusement forsaking and disregarding the sabbath and weekly meeting of the church.
Things have not always gone smoothly and there have been disputes. The Society Records show that on January 26, 1857, the trustees voted to appropriate $25 for the purchase of books for the choir. February 9th they authorized the president to secure some lady to play the organ at the rate of $50 per annum, the engagement to be for one quarter only. May 12th the trustees voted to raise by assessment on church slops, money sufficient to defray the expense of the singing. For some reason this action of the trustees seems to have raised the breeze in the parish, and on May 20th they voted to call a special meeting of the society and refer the whole question of leadership and the method of raising funds for the church music directly to the people. The society found it impossible to raise the necessary means by assessment. The proved too much for the trustees and the whole board resigned on June 27th. There was an interregnum of peace now for a short time. The choir had left and congregational singing was in vogue.
The wife of pastor Hiram Foote writes that the church parsonage was once a part of the Underground Railroad. A slave named George was safely kept in the basement for two nights and then made his way to Canada. He was fed, clothed and provided with a satchel that he might appear more like a Northern tourist than a runaway slave, and was furnished with an envelope directed to Mr. Foote, to be mailed when he should arrive in Canada. In due time the missive returned, and we knew George was safe.
The historical highlight of our church has to be the visit of Abraham Lincoln to our worship October 2, 1859. Lincoln was not yet a presidential candidate, but had been talking to groups of Republicans at various locations. Lincoln had been to Milwaukee speaking at the State FAir and then came to Beloit by train to speak there on October 1st. William Tallman, a prominent member of our church, heard about the Beloit visit and took his carriage to Beloit that Saturday. Tallman and a couple of others from Janesville talked Lincoln into coming up to Janesville to talk to some Republicans and stay overnight in the Tallman House. The next morning, October 2, Lincoln could not find his boots. They had been taken downstairs by a servant in the Tallman mansion for polishing. Lincoln missed his train time back to Illinois and was talked into coming to the church service by Tallman. The Tallman House is a historic museum today and has the actual bed that Lincoln slept in.
On Wednesday Sept. 28, 1859, the Wisconsin State Convention of Congregational churches met in our church. There were sixty-two ministers and twenty-five delegates present. Great questions were dealt with and the discussions were vehement. The church was crowded with listeners. The abolition of slavery was the main theme to emerge from that convention. Note that this convention was held just five days before Abraham Lincoln worshiped here.
“During the Civil War this parish sent twenty-five of its men into the Union cause, including two of its pastors. The Rev. S.P. Wilder enlisted in Co. F, 51st Infantry, Wisconsin Volunteers. The Rev. Charles H.A. Bunkley served as Chaplain, in the Army of the Potomac. The Rev. Hiram Foote was two of his sons enter service, one of whom died as a prisoner of war in South Carolina. Six of our church’s sons died in the war.”
The May 1, 1875 Janesville Gazette reported “the beautiful and commanding Congregational Church, the pride of the city and one of the finest church edifices in the state, has been swept away by the fire demon’ and that which yesterday stood as an imposing monument to the Christian enterprise of Janesville, is today smoldering walls. When the fire department arrived the fire had spread to a considerable extent over the west end of the church. The companies had no sooner got streams on the building than the Washington No. 1, became disabled from the bursting of the two flues, and was taken from the ground. The Water Witch kept up a constant stream, but without effect.” The entire building was destroyed; the new sanctuary was built inside the brick walls you see today.
On June 9, 1902 the Janesville Gazette talks about the hundreds of people who came to the new organs’ dedication service at the Congregational Church. The Kimball organ was given by David Jeffris for the memory of his family. Mrs. Grace Moutat Jeffris was a member of this church and active in its life from 1847 to her death in 1900. The organ was considered the finest in Janesville at the time The echo organ in the upper balcony was given by Mrs. Cornelian Webb. The organ console was replaced in 2003.
The ten bells chimes and peal were dedicated on September 28, 1907 as a memorial gift of the family of David Jeffris. The chime consists of ten bells with the great or tenor bell being 54 inches in diameter, with a weight of 3030 pounds. The total weight of the timber frame and bells with the mountings is about 15,000 pounds. Each bell has an inscription on it. The F Sharp-1555 lbs. — Grace Moutat-Jeffris, Sandwich Parish, Shetland, June 12, 1831, Janesville, WI Aug. 28, 1900. O Thou that tallest good tiding, lift up Thy voice with strength. We have been told that we have one of the largest bell towers and one of the few left of its kind in this part of the United States. Most other bell towers and chimes are electronic.
There was a time when famous authors, adventurers, diplomats, journalists, and scientists came to speak at First Congregational Church. The combination of the 3 sided balcony, the raised platform and excellent acoustics made it an unequaled facility for performances before the days of TV and public audio systems. Al Hough, a lifetime member of the church until his passing in 2008 was a young boy when he saw Amelia Earhart speak in our church on October 23, 1933. Al was able to get a balsa airplane wing autographed by Earhart, and his family still has it today. Some other speakers were Eleanor Roosevelt on Feb. 14. 1955, Bennett Cerf in 1945, Ogden Nash in 1953, Ralph Bunche in 1955, and Jesse Owens in 1957. The Janesville History Club made a large contribution to the city and much of it took place in this church.
Our Facilities
The gifts of many generous families allowed for us to renovate the oldest part of our church built in 1865 after a devastating fire took the first church structure. We created the Spiritual Arts Center as a place where the community can come and walk our labyrinth and see galleries of visual art, fabric displays, as well as artistic sculptures. This sacred space can be used to host special events such as weddings and receptions, as well as spiritual enrichment opportunities like meditation classes.