• What We Believe

    Real faith for real life.

    Scriptural Values

    Those who would seek to understand how the congregational life of our church has been shaped must understand two things about our group. Our proudest and most productive times were when we embodied these two pillars of faith. The first is our six core values that came as a result of a strategic planning process several years ago. These scriptural based values are:

    • Extravagant Joy - John 15:9, 11
    • Passionate Faith - James 2:17
    • Loving Respect - John 13:34
    • Deep Connectedness - John 15:5
    • Intentional Growth - Acts 2:46-47
    • Shared Laughter - I Peter 1:8

    Discipleship

    The second thing that has shaped the life of our church came as a result of our desire to understand better the call to Christian discipleship. Several years ago our then-permanent pastor led the congregation in a focused study of the book “Real Faith for Real Life.” The congregation found the material in this study to resonate so closely with their aspirations and beliefs that they adopted the five-word title as the tag line for our church. This tag line is on our church sign, our letterhead, and on many materials that are used to represent us to the community. The tag line reminds us of the six marks of discipleship that flow directly from this the notion that we promote a real faith for the living of a real life, and we strive to maintain our commitments to these:

    • Practicing the good in daily life – Daily Prayer
    • Our habit of weekly renewal – Weekly Worship
    • Hearing Gods voice – Daily Bible Reading
    • The call to Christ-like living – Service to Others
    • Our call to relationship with spirit – Nurturing Relationships
    • Generosity -- a reflection of God’s heart in our lives
  • God is still speaking... find our theology in words at our denomination's website, above.

    1957

    Year that the Four Denominations: Congregational, Christian, Reformed and Evangelical-- joined to form the UCC

    914,871

    members worldwide

    5032

    Congregations

  • History of Campbell UCC

    Established congregation, modern theology.

    Chronology

    1884: The Reverend C. W. Hill, pastor of the San Jose Congregational Church, began regular Wednesday evening services at the Hamilton Grammar School.

    1887: The meeting place was changed to the Town Hall in Campbell.

    1888 – July : Reverend Dr. William Windsor came to California and bought a ranch in the Union District near Los Gatos which he named “Boscobel”.

    1888 – Nov 4th: Dr. Windsor held the first Sunday morning service in Campbell Town Hall.

    1889 – Apr 28th: Twelve people assembled in the Campbell Town Hall to organize a Congregational Church. Rev. Dr. William Windsor was called to serve as pastor.

    1891 – Apr 18: Articles of Incorporation were received and filed. It was voted to proceed with plans for a church. (Church began construction at location of current Campbell City Hall complex.)

    1892 – Jan 13: First service held in Lecture Room of new church. The main sanctuary was not yet ready for use.

    1892 – Mar 13: First service held in new church sanctuary. Church was dedicated.

    1902 – Apr 24: The Town Library, which was founded by the church, was kept in the lecture room and was under the supervision of Mr. James from its beginning.

    1927 – Jan: Reverend Joseph Henry Bennett started the Cub Scout organization in the church, based on those in England. It was called Wolf Cub Pack Number One. It was the first in the area and the forerunner of the present Cub Scout Packs in the United States.

    1953: Demand for a new church became quite vocal. Dr. Olds and members of the planning committee scouted for suitable locations. After several options, the committee decided upon an agreement of sale for property along Campbell Avenue belonging to Mr. Dubcich. After the adjustment of a minor disagreement, the purchase price was settled upon for 400 feet, totaling 3.14 acres, at $6,000 per acre for a total cost of $19,146.

    1954 Fall: A building fund canvass was conducted.

    1955 Aug 1: The old church building was sold to the City of Campbell for use as a City Hall (conditional on the passage of a bond election in October)

    1955 Nov: Construction began on the new church.

    1956 July 22: The last service was held in the old church.

    1956 July 29: The first service was held in the new church. Folding chairs were arranged on the bare concrete floor since there was no money for floor coverings or pews. Membership at the time of the move was 452 with church school enrollment of 250.

    1956 Sep 23: The new church was dedicated. The dual services were abandoned as the new sanctuary would hold all the worshipers for one service held at 10 a.m.

    1957: The church joined the Santa Clara Valley Council of Churches

    1961 Oct: The Congregational Church of Campbell officially became a member of the new national body, “The United Church of Christ”.

    1969 – Jan 19: The “Burning of the mortgage” on the building took place.

    1970: Congregation voted to construct a Fellowship hall, kitchen addition and classrooms.

    1971 – July 23: City of Campbell demolished the original church building to make room for a new city center.

    1972 – Jan 23: Fellowship center and two classrooms were dedicated. Kitchen was enlarged.

    1981-1986: Ten stained glass clerestory windows were installed and dedicated.

    1985: Our new Allen 5000 organ was dedicated and special recognition was made of all the memorial gifts for the organ.

    1989 – Apr 22: The Church celebrated the 100th anniversary with a banquet and special services.

    1992 – Nov: The bell tower was removed (due to termite damage) and the front entrance was remodeled. A memorial garden was completed in front of the church under the large stained glass window. The garden included the remounted cross from the tower.

    1997 – New Century Hymnals were dedicated. Pew Bibles were dedicated.

      Ministers Called by the Congregation

      1889 – 1903 The Rev. Dr. William Windsor

      1903 – 1916 The Rev. George E. Atkinson

      1916 – 1918 The Rev. William E. Eckles

      1918 – 1921 The Rev. H. L. Preston

      1921 – 1926 The Rev. William E. Eckles

      1927 – 1945 The Rev. Joseph H. Bennett

      1945 – 1948 The Rev. Robert L. Carlson, D.D.

      1948 – 1960 The Rev. Corwin H. Olds, D.D.

      1956 – 1957 The Rev. Delbert E. Hollenberg

      1961 – 1965 The Rev. Ed Cunningham

      1963 – 1965 The Rev. V. F. (Deitz) Deditius

      1966 – 1985 The Rev. Dr. Anthony Wayne Meyers

      1988 – 1992 The Rev. Oliver Thomas

      1992 – 1999 The Rev. Margaret (Meg) Self

      2002 – 2011 The Rev. Elane O’Rourke

      2014 – 2016 The Rev. Blair Hull

      2018 - 2021 The Rev. Naomi Schulz

      2024 - present The Rev. Shirley Macemon