The History Project 50th Anniversary Book
The Beginning
In the summer of 1975, a group of 147 individuals came together to form a new church. The common thread that wove us together was our commitment to being in covenant with the United Church of Christ. Most of the individuals had been members of the First Congregational Church of Redlands and had decided to leave when that congregation voted to remain separate from the UCC.
Wanderings
Several small organizational meetings were held in different homes. The first formal meeting and worship service was held at the Morey Mansion on June 26, 1975 , with the Rev. Bruce Van Blair agreeing to serve as pastor of the new church and Rev. Richard Blakley as Associate Minister. Bruce had close ties to the minister of the First United Methodist Church of Redlands, who generously invited us to meet that summer in their facility. By early fall, a more formal agreement was reached with the United Methodists that allowed us to worship in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and use some of their education rooms and office space. By the first Annual Meeting on January 18, 1976, about 150 people had signed personal covenants and were listed as Charter Members.
A Home of Our Own
In 1977, the church offices were moved to a heritage house — affectionately known as “The Church House” — located on the property we had purchased on the corner of Bellevue Avenue and Olive Street in Redlands. In the fall of 1983, the congregation temporarily relocated its worship services to the Chapel at the First Baptist Church, where there was ample room to house the new organ. Upon completion of the first building phase, all activities moved to Redlands UCC’s present site at 168 Bellevue Avenue.
Fifty years of RUCC
In June 2025 the church celebrates it’s 50th year anniversary. As it was in the beginning, and still is today – whoever you are, and wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here.