Welcome to St. Paul United Church of Christ!  We are thrilled that your search, (internet, spiritual, or otherwise), has brought you to our site.  We realize that we may be just a teensy little bit biased, but we at St. Paul strongly feel that our community of faith and fellowship has a lot to offer to those on their journey, no matter what path that journey may be taking them. 

Founded in Palatine in 1871, St. Paul has its roots buried deep in a rich and diverse faith history that includes the first hardworking German settlers to this area, but also embraces the religious legacy of the Pilgrims and Puritans of the East Coast, as well as the radically lively faith of the Christian movement of the South and West.  These deep and broad roots give our community the stability we need to reach forward to the future God promises us, the strength we need to reach out to a wildly diverse world in need with God's love.  In the shadow of this living, growing tree, there is room and welcome for all who need to be refreshed, renewed and revived. 

Our church family at St. Paul is alive and thriving in God's life and love, and God's life and love are active and growing in us.  We hope that you will sense that vitality and grace in the pages of this site. As you explore the history of St. Paul and the United Church of Christ, the ministries and outreach that we nourish and that nourish us, and the beliefs and values that we hold dear, and that hold us together as a diverse community of faith, we pray that you will feel the grace of God shining through, and maybe get a glimpse of what it is you are looking for.

St. Paul UCC is one of the two oldest Churches in Palatine, Illinois!  Our history is an exciting journey that begins with the recorded history of the town of Palatine in 1835.  So follow along with us...see the sights and hear the history of a Church that has grown and progressed here in Palatine over the years.

Recorded history of Palatine, Illinois, began about 1835.  Land grants were given to Amos Baily & Ezekiel Cady in 1837, and Mason & Silas Sutherland in 1838.

The railroad station was built in 1855, with the laying of the tracks extending from Dunton Station, (which is now Arlington Heights Station).  In July 1855, the site of the village of Palatine was surveyed into lots, blocks & streets.  The first school was built in the village in 1860, and the Village of Palatine was officially incorporated in 1866.  It wasn't until 1914 that a high school was built.

With the establishment of the village of Palatine, a number of retired people from the village of Plum Grove, (near Algonquin & Roselle Rds), came to live in the thriving new community.  In order to serve them, and other newcomers to the village, Pastor Richard Kruger began mission work in 1870.  Services were held bi-monthly in the old Masonic Hall.  In 1871, the pioneers organized the congregation as the "German United St. Paul's Congregation".

Soon after the organization of the young congregation, plans were laid for the building of its own Church home.  The original St. Paul Church building was dedicated on the Harvest Festival in October of 1872. Also in 1872, a parsonage was built, which was destroyed by a fire in 1897 & re-built.  In 1888, a small School house was built.

Between 1871 and 1921, 12 different Pastors were called to serve at St. Paul. 

In May of 1912, Rev. Louis Kurz accepted a call to pastor at St. Paul.  Under his leadership, in 1914, St. Paul began to offer Sunday School classes & Worship Services in English.  Until that time, only German language education and services were offered.  Around the same time, the interior of the Church was renovated, new pews purchased and altar carpet laid.

In 1921, St. Paul celebrated its 50th anniversary and was discussing building a new brick Church to accommodate its congregants, and by March of 1925, the new Church building was dedicated.

In 1940, due to a merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Churches, St. Paul's became known as St Paul's Evangelical  and Reformed Church of Palatine.  And in 1958, the merger of the Evangelical & Reformed Churches with the Congregational Churches resulted in our Church's present name - St. Paul United Church of Christ, Palatine, Illinois.

Between 1940 and the early 1950's St. Paul's had experienced such a rapid growth that there were over 150 pupils in Sunday School, and in 1954 plans were made to add an Education Wing. 

In 1955, the Groundbreaking Ceremony for what was called the "Youth Activity Building" was held.