The University Christian Church Story
Many years ago, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through its’ Board of Church Extension launched the initiative to assist new churches organize, providing funds needed for new church starts. In September of 1959, an exploration began by the following: Dr. Paul Sims, Executive Director of the Texas Missionary Convention; Mr. James Behler, Director of the Joint Board of Christian Churches in Houston, and Dr. E.W. Rand, Dean of Education at Texas Southern University, to establish a church in the Third Ward area. The targeted population for this new church would be the students and faculty from Texas Southern University, as well as those from the surrounding community. It is because of this targeted population; the name University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was chosen.
As these men gathered for over a six-month period to pray, study and discuss the many factors involved in this new church start, there was a consensus that University should be a church that was vital to today’s world through its leadership, purpose, programming and support. University’s first meetings were held in private homes of interested persons. As the numbers grew, the formal meetings moved to the South-Central Branch of the YMCA. Weeks later, a charter for the church was opened for three weeks, closing with thirty signatures. Its first worship was held Palm Sunday, April 10, 1960 from 8am to 10am in the YMCA Chapel. Upon the completion of three months of formal worship, the church set its official organization date as July 10, 1960 (known as Founders Day).
The need came in 1963, as the congregation continued to grow, to find a new location to worship. UCC relocated to 3610 Southmore Blvd, where we began renovations and new construction. In February 1964, the congregation moved into its newly constructed sanctuary, where it continues to worship today. The mortgage burning for the sanctuary was held in 1979.
As a result of a sincere desire to see growth, both spiritually and numerically, UCC, moved by faith, purchased the property located next to the church. Through continued prayer and commitment, we want to have a facility that is more flexible and user friendly for those within the church and wider community. Our goal is to have activities/events that will benefit the church, while making an impact on the Third Ward community.
