Founding a congregation
On May 15, a small group met in the Charles Bannister home to form a Congregational church. Services were first held in homes, schoolhouses, and halls.
Shelby CongregationalUnited Church of ChristOur story · 1864 to today
Rooted in faith.
Shaped by community.
From a gathering in the Charles Bannister home to generations of worship, service, music, rebuilding, and renewal.
Read the complete 1864–2014 history
Serving the community since 1864
A story worth
remembering.
The congregation’s 150th-anniversary history gathers church records, community archives, and the memories of generations into a 22-page timeline. This page offers a guided introduction; the full document preserves the richer record.
From the congregation’s archives
A church
through the years.
These photographs preserve the places and people that shaped the congregation. They have been gently cropped and clarified while retaining the marks, texture, and character of the original prints.
Historical photographs courtesy of the congregation’s archives.
Milestones across generations
A living timeline.
The highlights below are drawn from the congregation’s sesquicentennial record. The full history includes a year-by-year account, pastor list, moderators, and source notes.
A church is dedicated
Visitors arrived by train for the June 27 dedication of the congregation’s first church building, a community undertaking built with donated logs and volunteer labor.
The bell begins to ring
The church bell, a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Truman Penfield, was dedicated on June 24. Members took turns ringing it to mark the occasion.
Building for a growing church
The church was enlarged, remodeled, and given a basement. The renewed building was dedicated over several days in April 1923.
Fellowship and a wider church
A new educational wing opened and was named the Fellowship Center. In May 1961, the congregation resolved to join the United Church of Christ.
A ministry of four decades
The congregation unanimously called Ernest Cummings, beginning a pastoral ministry that continued for almost 42 years.
Handbells join the music
A two-octave set of handbells launched a new music ministry. The choir later adopted the name “The Royal Ringers.”
Fire, faith, and rebuilding
Fire destroyed the sanctuary and dining room in December 2002. While the church was rebuilt, worship continued at Shelby High School. About 400 people gathered when the congregation returned on July 25, 2004.
Celebrating 150 years
An open house, community gatherings, an Asparagus Parade entry, and a sesquicentennial worship service marked a century and a half of shared life.
The story continues
Built again.
Still growing.
The building seen today carries the story of a congregation that kept worshiping through loss and returned home together. Our history is not only what happened long ago; it is the inheritance we receive and the future we shape.
Visit the churchThe complete record
Read the full
1864–2014 history.
The booklet includes the detailed timeline, pastors who served the congregation, church moderators, sesquicentennial notes, and source credits.