|
the History of
Pilgrim Congregational Church,
United Church of Christ
17th Century
| 1620: | Pilgrims landed in the New World. |
| 1636: | Harvard College founded as the first of many schools for the education of clergy and lay leaders. |
| 1647: | Act passed requiring all town residents to financially support public education. |
18th Century
| 1700: | Congregational opposition to slavery began. |
| 1772: | Boston Tea Party began in Old South Meeting House. Daughter of a Congregational minister, Abigail Adams, appealed to her husband, John, to provide for women's rights when shaping the Declaration of Independence. |
| 1785: | Lemuel Haynes became the first black man ordained in North America. |
| 1799: | The first Missionary Society formed in this country. |
19th Century
| 1817: | Established Brainerd Mission and school at Bird's Mill in the Cherokee Nation seven miles east of Chattanooga. |
| 1865: | American Missionary Society worked to educate freed slaves and their children. More than 500 schools and colleges formed including Howard School in Chattanooga. |
20th Century
| 1914: | Pilgrim Congregational Church was established in downtown Chattanooga by Rev. Charles Haven Myers and a group of about 100 people from First Methodist Church who sought doctrinal liberty and a church life with freedom from outside powers. |
| 1921: | After meeting in temporary spaces for several years, Pilgrim Church began construction of a new church building at the corner of Oak and Lindsay. |
| 1944: | Rev. Arnold Slater began a 27 year ministry at Pilgrim Church. Rev. Slater continues today as Pastor Emeritus. |
| 1957: | The Congregational Christian Churches joined with the Evangelical and Reformed Church to create the United Church of Christ. |
| 1958: | Construction began at 400 Glenwood Dr. on a new building for Pilgrim Church. |
| 1960s: | Pilgrim Church took a leading role in the Civil Rights Movement in Chattanooga, speaking out and expressing concern over racial inequality and prejudice. |
| 1961: | Pilgrim Church became a member of the United Church of Christ. |
| 1970s- present: | Pilgrim Church has continued its leadership in the community be striving to bring about racial justice, equal rights, and ecumenical cooperation. |
| 1995: | The Rev. Dr. John W. Mingus, Sr. called as our pastor. |