History

Mayflower Church carries the heritage of two distinct congregations into its ministry and outreach today—Mayflower and Faith Church. Mayflower Community Congregational Church (UCC) began in 1925 as a missionary endeavor of the Minneapolis Congregational Union. Its first building was in the new town of East Richfield, at the corner of Diamond Lake Road and Stevens Avenue.

On May 6, 1925, a charter group of 32 members organized the congregation. The group chose a name, prepared bylaws, and elected officers. In 1935, the church built a Spanish-style sanctuary (now the Museum of Russian Art). The church grew rapidly and became one of the strongest congregations of the denomination between Chicago and the West Coast.

The present Mayflower Church sanctuary, administrative unit, dining hall, and kitchen were built across the street in 1974-75, completed in time for the church’s 50th anniversary celebration on May 6, 1975.

Mayflower Church celebrated its merger with Faith United Church of Christ on February 7, 1993. Faith UCC was started in 1920 as part of the Evangelical and Reformed denomination, which joined with the Congregational Christians to form the United Church of Christ in 1957. Its building was completed and dedicated in October 1930. The stained glass windows from that building now adorn Mayflower's sanctuary and narthex walls.

The UCC
The United Church of Christ was formed in 1957 with the union of two Protestant denominations: the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches. Each of the denominations coming into the original union in 1957 holds a rich and diversified history. Excellent and interesting summaries of this history and the many different groups within the UCC can be found here.