On the east side of Huntley, Illinois, a white wood-frame church with a steeple and a stained-glass-trimmed bell tower has stood at the corner of Main and Church streets since 1863. Inside, the building still rests on hewn log sills cut from a farm on the Seen property just outside town, a quiet piece of architecture that anchors the First Congregational Church of Huntley in the rural past of McHenry County while the congregation itself looks firmly forward. The church is a chartered member of the United Church of Christ, has carried the motto "God Is Still Speaking" for decades, and in 2018 became an Open and Affirming congregation. Beyond its walls it runs one of the oldest handbell programs in the region, welcomes children to Sunday School on the second and fourth Sundays of every month, opens a thrift barn east of the church five Saturdays a year, and pours support into a different McHenry County charity every month.
Seventy-Five Years Before the Bricks
The history of the church begins long before the building. In 1846, Thomas Stillwell Huntley sold his property in New York and moved west to the prairie settlement that would take his name. Six years later, on September 11, 1852, about a dozen people gathered under the sponsorship of the churches of Elgin, Dundee, and Udina and organized the First Congregational Church of Huntley. Rev. Shapley invited the sponsoring pastors, the articles of faith and covenant of the church of Stockbridge were read and approved, and on June 29, 1853 a building committee of T.S. Huntley, G. Smith, and James Winnie was elected to plan a sanctuary thirty-six feet wide and fifty feet long with a gallery and a belfry.
The Civil War stalled construction, and for a time the little congregation worshipped in the local schoolhouse. In 1863, with the country still at war, the members voted to press on. A deal was struck with George Dorby to erect the building at a cost of $620. The sills are 8-by-8-inch hewn logs thirty-six feet long, harvested from the Seen property right in Huntley, and the same timbers still carry the floor today. Mr. Huntley gave the old parsonage to the church in 1885, and in 1872 two other small groups of Christians who had been meeting in homes around the village merged into the congregation.
The twentieth century brought a series of additions that shaped the building visitors see now. The first choir was organized in 1922 by Rev. and Mrs. Young. An electric organ was purchased in 1942 from the legacies of A.B. Brinkerhoff and B.A. Streeter. In 1951 the interior was remodeled, with a new altar, lectern, pews, pulpit, dossal, carpet, heating plant, and a single center aisle replacing the original two. The remodeled sanctuary was dedicated on December 3, 1951, and the centennial of the church was marked the next year with a dinner served by the Methodist Church of Dundee and held in the old high school gym. A fellowship hall followed in 1957, a new parsonage in 1964, a basement and choir room in 1971, and air conditioning in the sanctuary in 2000.
In 2014 the congregation marked the 150th anniversary of the building and gave thanks for the founders. As the anniversary record put it, "With the help of the Almighty God, may we do all we can to keep this church as a Beacon Light to those that are to follow us in this community of faith."
Sunday Morning at Nine
Worship is the steady center of the week. Every Sunday at 9:00 AM the congregation gathers in the sanctuary for an hour-long service of prayer, Scripture, sermon, and song. Communion is celebrated regularly, including on the first Sunday of the month and during special seasons, and baptism is offered to believers of any age. The atmosphere is described by the church as warm and rooted in long tradition, with room for the questions of modern life. A recorded service is posted each week on the church's YouTube channel so that members who are traveling, homebound, or simply unable to attend in person can follow along, and Pastor Michael also records short daily devotional messages for the same channel.
Visitors should know a few practical things. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the administrative assistant answers phone calls and emails during those hours. Newcomers are greeted warmly, encouraged to sign the guest book, and invited to attend a New Member Orientation held a few times each year in the Fellowship Hall at 10:30 AM, with light refreshments and a chance to meet other members, learn about the church's life, and hear more about the United Church of Christ.
An Open and Affirming Congregation
On January 28, 2018, the members of First Congregational Church voted unanimously to become an Open and Affirming congregation in the United Church of Christ. The vote was the fruit of a long study, and its language is explicit. The church's covenant welcomes "persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, age, race, nationality, marital standing, family structure, economic and social status, or faith background" into every part of its common life, including worship, the sacraments, leadership, learning, missions, and fellowship.
The statement grounds itself in the words of Jesus in Luke 10 and John 13, and in the church's reading that "sin refers to bad choices we make, not to our nature or our identity." Worship, communion, baptism, leadership, and fellowship are open to every person in the community. The phrase that hangs over the church's front door is the one that has welcomed people through it for generations: "You are welcome here no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey."
God Is Still Speaking
The church identifies fully with the United Church of Christ and the denomination's signature conviction that "God is still speaking." Its own statement of belief holds that the church has a three-part mission: a mission to the needs of its members, a mission to serving the community, and a mission to a world in need of the love of God and the compassion of Christ. Worship is rooted in the ancient practices of baptism and communion and in prayer, while members are encouraged to bring their questions, doubts, and discoveries into the conversation of faith. The church embraces the conviction that "religion and science are not mutually exclusive" and that head and heart are both welcome in the pew.
The wider UCC witness is part of the picture. The congregation participates in One Great Hour of Sharing each March, the refugee, relief, and development fund of the denomination that serves more than eighty countries, and in Strengthen the Church each May, an offering that funds new and renewing congregations, youth and young-adult ministries, and the formation of lay and pastoral leaders. Each December the church takes up the Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross, which provides pension supplementation, health premium help, and emergency assistance to low-income UCC retirees and their families.
The Handbell Tradition
Handbells have rung from the church's bell tower since 1966. Two women, Helen Marlowe and Nancy Johnson, attended a handbell concert at Second Congregational Church in Rockford in 1964, took the recommendation of its director on the size and type of bells to buy, and ordered a three-octave set from the Whitechapel Foundry of England. The bells arrived two years later at a cost of $1,047.58. Additional sets were added in 1970, 1974, 1978, and again in 1985 in memory of Henry Marlowe, and the program has been ringing ever since.
Two ensembles carry the tradition today. The Whitechapel Bells are the advanced adult group, directed by Joel Ahrendt, rehearsing on Thursdays at 5:30 PM and playing in worship on the third Sunday of each month. The Genesis Bells are the beginning adult group, directed by Trish Wascher, designed for newcomers to the instrument. Both groups are open to adult members of every skill level, and the handbell choirs are a featured part of the Christmas season, often pairing with the Cookie Walk on the first Saturday of December for an afternoon of seasonal music. The Hobo Show, a fundraiser the choirs have run since 1965, remains part of the program's long-running rhythm.
Children and Sunday School
Children are a welcome presence in the sanctuary. Sunday School meets on the second and fourth Sunday of each month during the 9:00 AM service for children ages five through twelve, kindergarten through fifth grade. Classes are held in the lower meeting room near the Church Street entrances and use the Deep Blue curriculum, a story-based program that walks children through the Bible with music, drama, puzzles, games, and craft projects tailored for both readers and non-readers. Deacons coordinate the program, and any adult who would like to teach or serve as a second adult in the classroom is invited to join a class on those Sundays.
Beyond the classroom, the church invests in the wider life of local children. Each September the congregation adopts the students of Preschool on the Square as prayer partners, receiving each child's photo, first name, and birth date and praying for them throughout the school year. The church also blesses preschoolers' backpacks at the kick-off of the school year, hosts a children's Christmas play in December, and stages an Easter egg hunt following Easter worship. A summer tradition called Story and a Snack with Pastor Michael runs on Thursday mornings outside the front doors of the church, with a story and a snack for preschool-aged children from the village.
The Women's Circle and the Bargain Barn
The Women's Circle has been a backbone of the church's fellowship and service for decades. Members meet monthly for devotions, fellowship, and planning, and the group runs the Bargain Barn, a thrift shop held in the barn just east of the church at 11628 E. Main Street. The Bargain Barn opens on the first and third Saturday of each month from June through October, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with new merchandise added every sale. Two special events bookend the season: a Shopping for Mom event in the spring and a Holiday Boutique in the fall.
The Women's Circle also serves the wider church and the wider community. The group purchases Christmas gifts for the residents of the Pioneer Center, supplies funeral lunches for grieving families in the congregation, and sews items for a local nursing home. Past projects have included rummage sales and support for the McHenry County PADS emergency shelter meals.
Bible Study and Adult Learning
A weekly Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at noon and is open to anyone who would like to join the conversation. The hour-long gathering is described by the pastor as "the most important book you'll ever read," and members walk through books of the Bible together, often tying the readings to the season of the church calendar. A Lenten Bible Study has run for years on Wednesday evenings in the weeks leading to Easter, with a simple soup-and-sandwich supper at 6:00 PM and study beginning at 6:30 PM.
Other recurring adult gatherings fill out the week. A fellowship exercise class meets on Thursdays, an open-air chair-yoga class led by Lynn M. is offered midweek, and a knitting group gathers on Thursday afternoons to stitch and talk. The Women's Circle meets once a month, typically on a Sunday after worship, and a Bunco party runs twice a year as a community fellowship event.
A Mission of the Month
Twelve different nonprofits and ministries receive the focused support of the congregation each year. The Mission Committee selects one organization for every month, and members learn about the partner, pray for its work, and contribute financially. The 2026 calendar includes:
- January: McHenry County PADS, the network of church sites that houses a cold-weather emergency shelter and offers vocational services.
- February: Family Health Partnership, a free clinic for uninsured and under-insured residents of McHenry County staffed by volunteer physicians.
- March: One Great Hour of Sharing, the UCC's worldwide refugee, relief, and development offering.
- April: Grafton Township Food Pantry, which serves Huntley, Lakewood, and parts of Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, and Algonquin.
- May: Strengthen the Church, supporting new and renewing UCC ministries, youth and young-adult programs, and pastoral leadership.
- June: Independence Health and Therapy, which helps older adults in northern Illinois stay in their own homes with day programming, mental health and dementia services, and caregiver support.
- July: It's All About Kids, founded in memory of a young McHenry County cancer patient and now raising more than a million dollars for pediatric cancer research at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago and for McHenry County families facing medical hardship.
- August: Pioneer Center for Human Services, a community-based provider for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, traumatic brain injury, autism, and survivors of sexual assault.
- September: Senior Care Volunteer Network, preserving the independence of McHenry County seniors since 1998.
- October: Turning Point, a domestic-violence agency offering 24-hour crisis intervention, emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling, and a parenting program.
- November: Veterans Path to Hope, supporting veterans and their families through respect, integrity, compassion, and advocacy.
- December: The Pioneer Center Wish List and the UCC Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund for low-income retirees and clergy families in crisis.
The year also includes the Fill the Altar event each November, when the sanctuary is stacked high with food and supplies for the Grafton Township Food Pantry, and a Culver's Scoopie Night fundraiser in March, when ten percent of every pre-tax order at the Huntley Culver's goes to the church.
The Seasons of the Church Year
Beyond the steady weekly rhythm, the church marks the great seasons of the Christian calendar with special services. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when members wave palms and walk the road of Jesus into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday follow, with the Good Friday service including an opportunity for members to carry the cross into the sanctuary and hear Jesus' seven last words from the cross along with congregational meditations. Easter Sunday is marked with flowers placed on the cross, special music, and an Easter egg hunt for the children.
All Saints Day on November 1 honors members who have died, and the congregation gathers to remember their faithful service. The Sunday before Thanksgiving is set aside for a 10:00 AM Thanksgiving service followed by a Thanksgiving Brunch and the collection of food for the Grafton Township Food Pantry. Blue Christmas, observed in mid-December, gives space to grief, loneliness, and disappointment in a season when cheer is expected of everyone, and the Christmas Eve service at 4:00 PM brings the year to a close with the telling of the Christmas story through Scripture and carols, a children's moment, the lighting of the Christ candle, and the singing of Silent Night by candlelight.
Pastoral Care and End-of-Life Planning
The Board of Deacons has prepared a resource called "Putting My House in Order" to help members and friends plan for the end of life. Available as a downloadable PDF from the church, the document walks through the decisions families face when death occurs without warning, from funeral and burial wishes to medical, financial, and estate matters. The church's teaching on the resource is plain: "Death knows no age; therefore, preparation for death is not limited to any particular age group." Members are encouraged to download and save the form to their own computers, fill it in over time, and revisit it as circumstances change.
Funeral lunches are a longstanding part of the church's pastoral care. The Women's Circle serves as the church's "Kitchen Elves," preparing and serving the meal after a funeral so that a grieving family is surrounded by the church's fellowship at the moment they most need it.
The People in the Pews
The pastor of the congregation is Rev. Dr. Michael Smith, an avid sports and fitness enthusiast who holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Missouri Valley College, where he was a football All-American, a Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, and a Doctor of Ministry from Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. He is married to Synthea, and their son David was preparing to attend Northern Illinois University while their daughter Gracie studied law at the University of Chicago. The pastor's daily devotional videos, weekly recorded services, and the seasonal reflections in the church newsletter give the congregation a steady voice across the week.
The church office is run by Administrative Assistant Stacy Nilsen, who has been at the church since September 2010 and serves as the first point of contact for visits, calls, and emails. Two additional ministry leaders complete the team: Joel Ahrendt, director of the Whitechapel Bells, and Trish Wascher, director of the Genesis Bells.
The Building and the Grounds
The sanctuary, the fellowship hall, the choir room, the lower meeting room where Sunday School meets, and the office wing form the working heart of the property. Behind the sanctuary sits the historic "Field of Dreams," an adjacent parcel the church purchased in August 2000, and a barn to the east of the church that has hosted the Bargain Barn for years. The old school apartments next door, purchased in 2006, give the congregation room to grow. The entire complex is set up for weddings and funerals as well as the weekly round of meetings that fill the calendar: Sunday worship and Sunday School, the Wednesday Bible Study, Thursday handbell rehearsals and chair yoga, the Cub Scout and Boy Scout 167 meetings, the monthly Council and Trustees gatherings, and the weekday fellowship exercise class.
Scouting and Community Use
The church's facilities host a Cub Scout pack on Sunday evenings and Boy Scout Troop 167 on Monday evenings throughout the year. The building also opens its doors to community partners for the chair-yoga class, the knitting group, the Women's Circle, the Bargain Barn, and a range of seasonal fundraisers. The church's photography and videography policy notes that, as a member of the congregation on Sunday mornings, anyone speaking to the room through the public address system may appear on the recording, while no close-up shots are taken of those seated in the pews, and children under thirteen are not identified by name unless a signed consent is on file.
Online Giving and the Virtual Church
Giving to the church is offered online through ChurchTrac, the platform the congregation uses for donations and accounts. Members and friends may also give in person during worship. Recordings of every Sunday service are posted on the church's YouTube channel, and the virtual church page on the church's site collects the latest service alongside recent memorial services and holiday celebrations. Newsletters are published monthly and archived on the church's site, each one signed by Pastor Michael and filled with pastoral reflection, short stories, and a calendar of the month ahead.
Joining the Church
Anyone interested in learning more is welcome to attend a New Member Orientation, held a few times each year in the Fellowship Hall at 10:30 AM. The session runs until about 11:30 AM and includes light refreshments, time to talk with current members, an overview of the church's ministries and programs, and a clear explanation of what it means to be a member of a United Church of Christ congregation. The next step, for those who feel ready, is to come forward on a Sunday morning to be received into the membership of a church that has been gathering on this corner of Main and Church streets since 1852.