top of page

Weekly Historical Features

Look for weekly historical features about our church every Thursday.

 

First Congregational Church of Ripon

Celebrating 175 Years of Worship, Service, and Community

November 21-23, 2025

website.png

Founding The Church

The First Congregational Church, Ripon's first church, was founded on November 21, 1850 at a meeting of eleven local persons and the Rev. D. Cleary of the American Missionary Society.  Six men and five women became the charter members of the church, adopting the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin’s (1840) Confession of Faith and Covenant and a Congregational form of governance.

website.png
Rev. Sherrill first pastor UCC.png
Rev. Sherrill first pastor UCC.png

First Worship Leader

The first worship service was held on December 1, 1850 in a small stone building at the southeast corner of Church and Liberty streets. The Rev. M. Sherril, of New York, was the first pastor, and he oversaw construction of the first church building (pictured above) on a lot north of the current church building, completed in the spring of 1853. 

IMG_3426_edited.jpg

Want to learn more?

Click on the button below to take you to a document

made up by Samuel M. Pedrick for our 100th anniversary in 1950!

bottom of page