Our Washington Park United Church Of Christ began
  as a Sunday School class which met in the George Hewitt
  home near Downing and Alameda about 1909. The class met
  through World War I, assembling later in a tent on the site of
  Steele School, and then on lots given by Stephen Knight at 400
  S. Williams St. Members constructed the basement room
  where classes and Worship services were held until 1921.

  For four years the building stood neglected until William O.  
  Rogers was sent by the Board of Homeland Ministries of the
  Congregational Christian Churches to start the church again.  
  In 1925 the church was chartered as the Washington Park
  Congregational Church. It prospered and grew. In 1927 the
  sanctuary was constructed on top of the already existing
  basement structure. During these years our Women's
  Fellowship, called the Dorcas Society, was founded, which later
  lead to the formation of women's circles; service, study and support
  groups and an outstanding quilters group. Equal rights and
  responsibilities for women have always been our church's policy. 
    
William Rogers served as Pastor until 1950.  In 1950 Lincoln Y. Reed was called to serve as Pastor. Under his leadership the membership
continued to grow.   The educational wing was built in 1955, and a remodeling and reconstruction of the original building was completed in
1958.  The sanctuary, designed by William G. Muchow, combined traditional Christian symbols of Word and Sacrament in contemporary
forms. It won a national architectural award. A small house which stood on church property south of the educational wing was used to
house a Cuban refugee family, and later became a meeting place for young people, called Agape House. Lincoln Reed served until 1959.  
      
Charles S. Milligan, professor of Philosophy of Religion at Iliff School of Theology, served as interim Minister from 1959-60, when W. Bruce
MacKenzie became Minister. During the 1960's the church distinguished itself in the area of social concerns, including fair housing, and in
youth work. In the late 50's and well into the 60's, under the leadership of Bruce Mackenzie, the church members and friends produced and
acted in musicals and dramas as part of its Church and the Arts program. These were presented both in our church sanctuary, and in other
churches of our denomination along the front range.    
     
In 1957 the Congregational Churches nationally united with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches to form a new denomination, the United
Church of Christ.  In 1953 our Washington Park Congregational Church voted to change its name to the Washington Park United Church Of
Christ.   In 1967 the nearby Ohio Avenue Congregational Church closed its doors, and their membership joined our WPUCC.  Our church
then used the old Ohio Avenue church building to co-found the Washington Park Community Center, which still serves our community.
Members and friends of our church have supported the Center throughout its history. Also during this time, our church supported a Rhodesian
man who was studying in Denver, and a Korean boy was supported for many years by one of our women's circles.  
    
In 1970 Bruce MacKenzie was called to serve another church, and again Charles Milligan acted as interim Minister until 1971 when Alan
R. W. Campbell became Pastor. During the six years Alan was with us our church responded to our aging neighborhood by providing an
excellent ministry to the senior citizens.    The Washington Park East Neighborhood Association was founded by our church during this
period, and we joined other congregations in celebrating the nation's bicentennial. The church's long interest in Music, Art, Drama and Dance
was emphasized.  In 1977 Charles Milligan once again became interim Minister until 1978, when Bruce O. Inglis, our present Minister, was
called. This era has been characterized by an influx of younger people and families into the Washington Park area.      In order to meet the
needs of this new generation, our church has placed major emphasis on programs for children and young adults.  Worship has been made
informal, contemporary and celebrative.  Cross-generational support groups called "Extended Families" were added to the already existing
clubs and fellowship groups.

Retreats at our Rocky Mountain Conference grounds, La Foret and Dillon have been emphasized. Our church sponsored a Thailand refugee
family and founded a Parents Day Out program.    These years have also brought a renewed commitment to community and social concerns
with our church voting in 1990 to become a Just Peace Church, in 1992 to become Open and Affirming of gays, lesbian and bisexual people;
and in 1994 voting to address the environmental crisis by becoming a Whole Earth Church. In addition our church reached out to the
neighborhood by supporting, and offering building space to, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cubs and Brownies, artists and singing groups, dances,
musicians, choirs, numerous AA, Incest Survivor and other self-help groups, a meditation group and study groups.    

Our Washington Park UCC has, throughout its history, supported national and global work of the United Church of Christ, and international
concerns continue as one of our high priorities.   Today our church is looking forward to, and planning for, the future.  Our goals include
becoming a multicultural church for all ages, races, nationalities and sexual orientation; to be a more relevant, vocal and active agent for
justice and peace; to become even more supportive of one another as we undertake our individual spiritual journeys and to celebrate our
wonderful energy and diversity as a church family. It is our aim to move into the 21st Century with meaning, freedom and flair, and we
welcome all interested persons to join our growing and vibrant church family.