Started Above a Livery Stable

Our church goes back over 100 years. In 1900, Reverend Lawrence of Mountain View was invited to preach to a small group of Sunnyvale residents who'd been without Christian worship meetings for two years. Services were held above a livery stable (!) by the train depot.

1905 - The First Congregational Church of Sunnyvale

In 1905 The First Congregational Church of Sunnyvale was incorporated and began meeting at the church on the corner of McKinley and South Sunnyvale Avenue (photo). The first pastor was a man named James Hayward.

1905 Church at McKinley and South Sunnyvale Avenue

Almost 50 Years & 13 Pastors Later

Services were held at that church almost fifty years with thirteen pastors. In 1955, the congregation bought a five acre parcel
for a new church and in 1957 changed its name to Congregational Community Church of Sunnyvale. On October 19, 1958, the first
worship services were held in the new building on the corner of Bernardo & Remington (its present location). Formal dedications were held November 9-15, 1958.

1958 Current Location, Bernardo & Remington, Sunnyvale, California

Boom Times of the 1950's & 60's

In 1960 the church conducted two services each Sunday. 89 new members joined that year (with countless friends & guests)
and 85 new children enrolled in the school. In 1961 the congregation joined with the United Church of Christ and the old church
which served so well so long was finally sold. The Narthex building, which houses the office and Shephard's Hall, was dedicated
in November of '65 and in '68 the church opened the preschool. The FISH program began at the church in '68 and it was in 1969 that we acquired our beautiful Moeller Pipe Organ.

1993 - “Pastor Gen” Joins Us

Six pastors served in the new church until our current pastor, Genavieve Heywood (affectionately known as "Pastor Gen"), took over on October 1, 1993. Less than three months earlier, on July 17, 1993, the church became enrolled on the UCC list of "Open and Affirming" churches.

1998 - Tornado Does Damage

On May 4, 1998, the church was struck twice by a tornado resulting in serious damage which took almost three years to repair.

1998 Tornado Strikes

We Start Our Second 100 Years

In 2004-2005, we celebrated our centenary year and started our second 100 years with a newly refurbished church.

It has not gone unnoticed that in 1903 the pastor of this church was a man named James Hayward...Today, over 100 years later, our pastor is a woman named Gen Heywood.

Makes one wonder, doesn't it!

2003 - Church at Bernardo and Remington in Sunnyvale, CA