First Congregational Church of Riverside rises from the corner of Mission Inn Avenue and Lemon Street, a brick Spanish Revival landmark designed by Myron Hunt, the California architect behind the Spanish Wing of the Mission Inn and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The cornerstone was laid in December 1912, and the building was dedicated on January 25, 1914. Its concrete bell tower, engineered by Henry Jekel, climbs 135 feet in Spanish Baroque Churrigueresque style. The structure is one of the most significant Spanish Revival buildings in Southern California, and it has anchored the civic and spiritual life of downtown Riverside for more than a century.
The congregation itself is older still. It was organized on April 21, 1872, just months after the founding of the city, when a handful of settlers banded together as the first church in Riverside. The first sanctuary, dedicated on March 23, 1873 at Sixth and Vine, was built with community-wide support and was called the First Church of Christ in Riverside because it also served other faiths. The present site at Seventh and Lemon was claimed in June 1887 with a wooden Gothic-style church. From its earliest years, the congregation has been woven into the civic life of the city it helped shape.
Sanctuary Treasures: Stained Glass, Organ, Carillon, and Cross
Around the upper level of the sanctuary are eight stained glass windows designed by Horace Judson and made by the Judson Studios of Los Angeles. Five were dedicated on April 4, 1947 and three more on November 20, 1955. The windows depict the Nativity, Christ in the Temple, the Baptism, Christ Blessing the Children, the Light of the World, Prayer, Communion, and the Woman of Samaria. Even older is the Sistine Madonna window, also a Judson Studio creation from 1916, modeled after Raphael's 1513-14 oil painting. It was the first stained glass in the building and was restored and reinstalled in April 1997 in honor of the church's 125th anniversary.
The baptismal font is a piece of American Walnut carved in 1927 by the Swiss woodcarver Richard Lippich of Lancaster, New York, given by Mr. C.C. Childs as a memorial for his wife. The Great Cross above the chancel, dedicated on April 9, 1950, is made of 23 enamel-on-copper panels and was designed by Margaret Montgomery under the direction of the Claremont artist Millard Sheets. Hanging in the bell tower is a 24-bell carillon manufactured in France, the only pealing bells in Southern California, installed on October 1, 1989 in memory of Scott Miller by his parents Don and Beth. And anchoring the music program is a 38-rank, three-manual Austin pipe organ with 2,292 pipes, dedicated on March 22, 1959 and designed by organist and choirmaster Robert G. Derick.
Sunday Morning at Ten
Worship gathers every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. The service has a traditional shape but leaves room for creativity and flexibility, and visitors are handed a printed bulletin that guides them through the liturgy. Music is a constant thread: a magnificent organ and a grand piano support instrumental pieces, choral anthems, and the congregational singing of hymns, with the Pilgrim Choir leading much of the music from September through June. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month, and the table is open to all, with no exceptions. Scripture is read and a message seeks to make the ancient text relevant to modern life. The service closes with a benediction and an invitation to stay for Coffee Hour, where old friends greet one another and newcomers find an easy welcome.
The congregation is intentionally diverse. People of many races, classes, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identifications, couples and singles, fill the pews, and the welcome is real. As the church puts it, all are welcome at FCC. Dress is equally diverse: some arrive in sport jackets and dresses, others in shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops. Visitors are encouraged to wear whatever makes them most comfortable.
Parking is easy on Sunday mornings. The church sits on the corner of Mission Inn and Lemon, with street parking adjacent and two free public lots on Lemon Street between University and Mission Inn. A small private lot off Lemon between the Parish House and the church is reserved for those who need to be close to the entrance, including anyone requiring an accessible entrance. The sanctuary and the main level of the building are entirely accessible, including a handicap accessible bathroom. For those who cannot come in person, the 10:00 a.m. service is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, with a full archive going back several years.
Taizé Prayer: A Service of Stillness
On the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m., the church joins three neighboring congregations in a rotating schedule of Taizé prayer, an ecumenical meditative worship shaped by the community in Taizé, France. The service takes place in a darkened sanctuary lit only by candles around the cross, with soft, repetitive singing of short phrases, scripture, silence, and reflection. It is a call to be still and listen, in the words of Samuel, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
Taizé prayer at FCC Riverside rotates with Trinity Lutheran Church on Brockton Avenue, Madison Street Church on Madison Street, and All Saints Episcopal Church on Terracina Drive. The service is open to all and is also livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. A dedicated Facebook group connects regular participants across the four host churches.
A Faith That Does Not Insist
First Congregational Church is not a creedal or dogmatic church. When new members are received, they join together in saying a single covenant: "We covenant to walk together as we seek to be faithful to Christ." The church does not require anyone to ascribe to any particular set of beliefs in order to be a member. Instead, the congregation values the diversity of faith expressions present in its midst, believing that each person carries a piece of truth to share.
As part of the United Church of Christ, the church is also in fellowship with other congregations that consider the UCC's Statement of Faith, offered as a testimony of faith, not a test of faith. The statement confesses belief in God, Eternal Spirit, who calls the worlds into being, creates people in God's own image, and seeks in holy love to save all from aimlessness and sin. It proclaims that in Jesus Christ, God has come among us, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to God's self, and that the Holy Spirit creates and renews the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
The UCC itself has long stood at the forefront of progressive Christianity. The denomination's forebears, the Pilgrims, departed Europe in 1620 in search of spiritual freedom, urged on by their pastor John Robinson to always keep their minds and hearts open to new ways. The UCC was the first Protestant denomination in America to ordain an African American (Lemuel Haynes, 1785), a woman (Antoinette Brown, 1853), and an openly gay person (William Johnson, 1972). The church plays that heritage forward, committed to a faith that is not oppressive but liberating, not guilt-ridden but healing, not rigid but questioning, not crippling but empowering, and a calling to be a force for goodness, justice, equality, and peace.
Welcome Without Exception
On March 19, 1995, the congregation became an Open and Affirming church, affirming the dignity and worth of all races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations. On April 24, 2016, the members revised and expanded that statement, calling themselves a church of extravagant welcome. The covenant reads in part: "We are a church of extravagant welcome. Our faith leads us to invite and celebrate all persons, including those of every race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, family structure, physical and mental health, social and economic circumstance, and faith journey. Seeking justice and equality for all, we make a commitment to lovingly embrace our diversity with respect, compassion, and understanding. We unconditionally welcome all to share in the full life, leadership, ministry, fellowship, worship, sacraments, responsibilities, and blessings of our congregation."
On April 25, 2021, at the annual meeting, the church adopted a Commitment to Anti-Racism and a Plan to Address Issues of Racism, pledging to educate itself about the effects of discrimination, to be vocal in opposing racism, and to work with community groups to fight it in its many forms. The Mission Board, Fellowship Committee, Music Committee, Christian Education team, and Diaconate all shape concrete practices that put the commitment into action, from multi-ethnic potlucks and tours of local cultural centers to intentional use of culturally significant music in worship.
The church also acknowledges, in a Land Acknowledgement Statement, its responsibility to care for the land where the building stands and the work is done, and respectfully names the original and current stewards of the land: the Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño, and Serrano peoples.
Project Food: A Meal That Became a Movement
On a Wednesday evening in November 1984, seventeen guests sat down to a hot dinner served by the church. That was the first night of Project Food, the church's longest-running outreach ministry. The program began as a response to the growing number of homeless and needy people in and near downtown Riverside, and initially included a hot sit-down dinner each Wednesday, along with the distribution of clothing and blankets. A children's program of crafts and reading, called Storytime, was added in later years. In 2008, a Student Run Health Clinic in partnership with students from the University of California, Riverside began providing medical and basic dental services twice a month.
Today Project Food serves an average of 200 guests each week, partnering with the County Mental Health Homeless Intervention Team, the County Health Department, and other faith-based organizations. A Christmas program with Santa, gifts, and a special dinner is offered every year, and students from local junior and senior high schools and colleges give hundreds of hours of community service time. The program accepts donations of backpacks, blankets, socks, underwear, warm hats, jackets, and basic toiletries, and monetary gifts can be made through the church or its PayPal account, with "Project Food" in the memo.
The church also hosts the Riverside Free Clinic, a nonprofit that provides free interdisciplinary health and wellness care to the underserved population of the Inland Empire while training future healthcare professionals. Services are offered every other Wednesday from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Music as the Beating Heart
Music runs through the life of the church. The Pilgrim Choir, the adult choir for high schoolers, college students, and adults, rehearses at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings in the choir room and again at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings before the service. The choir takes the months of July and August off and resumes the Thursday after Labor Day. The repertoire spans classical anthems and new music with challenging rhythms and inspirational messages, supported by a large music library. Every December the choir performs a Vespers Concert followed by a Christmas Tea, and guest instrumentalists, from trumpets and flute to guitars, bongos, and violin, join throughout the year.
The Handbell Choir rings three octaves of English handbells and rehearses two to three times a month on Sunday mornings from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., September through June, performing five or six times a year. Music Director Adam Daruvala, a bass-baritone and music educator, is a former child of this congregation who returned to lead the choral program after studies at California State University, Fullerton and stage appearances with Pacific Chorale, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pacific Symphony. Pianist and Organist Joseph Candelaria supports the worship and concert life of the church from the console.
The 1959 Austin pipe organ, with 2,292 pipes spread across 38 ranks, has long been described as the beating heart of the church's music. A recent appraisal recommended releathering of the key actions and air pressure regulators, an estimated $96,000 project to be completed in four phases. The Music Committee, the Board of Trustees, and the pastor have launched an Organ Restoration Fund, with single gifts and pledges accepted for the work. Replacing the organ, the church notes, would cost over a million dollars.
Children and Families
The church school program at FCC Riverside teaches that God's love is for all, no matter what. Children of all ages and parents worship together at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings; after the service, parents, guardians, and children gather for learning and fellowship, and families are encouraged to engage faith at home and in everyday life. Family Ministry welcomes single parents, grandparents, and guardians of every kind. Children remain in the care of their own parents or guardians at all times, with no separation, in keeping with a policy of transparency and consistency.
Family Sunday School takes a summer break with the school year, but the Board of Christian Education and Family Ministry plans family gatherings and outings throughout the year. Children from fourth grade and up are invited to serve as acolytes, carrying in the light of Christ at the opening of worship and carrying it out at the close. The Sunday School also chooses charities to support each year, with children creating crafts and holding a craft and bake sale for the congregation. Recent beneficiaries have included the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and Project Food. Baptism is open to both children and adults, and the church sees baptism as a ritual that welcomes a person into the larger body of Christ without requiring any prior connection to the congregation.
Small Groups, Steady Rhythms
A wide circle of small groups meets the congregation where its members are. Adult Bible Study, the church's main study group, gathers for classes shaped by progressive theology and lively conversation, with periodic evening classes and post-church forums on topics affecting modern life. The Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. in the Madonna Room for a spirited discussion, even for those who have not finished the book. Holy Grounds, on the second Sunday of each month, gathers at Back To The Grind, just around the corner, for a pre-service coffee, tea, or morning treat.
The FCC Pride Group, sponsored by the Mission Board, meets on the first Sunday of each month as a discussion and support gathering for members of the LGBTQ community and their allies, often potluck style, sometimes with guest speakers. The Fresh-Squeeze Fellowship is a quarterly taco-salad lunch for newcomers and not-yet-newcomers. The Movie and Dinner Group meets on the first Saturday of the month for a late afternoon film and a meal at a nearby restaurant. And a Hope and Joy Support Group offers a space for those walking through grief or difficulty.
Weddings in a Historic Sanctuary
The church welcomes couples of every background for wedding ceremonies, with no membership required. Senior Pastor Rev. Kristen Nelson brings more than 28 years of ordained experience to wedding preparation and has officiated hundreds of ceremonies; she works with couples and families to shape services that reflect their faith, traditions, and any special requests. The Music Director meets with each couple to plan music, drawing on the church's organ and grand piano. A wedding rehearsal is scheduled with the party, a wedding coordinator is on hand, and bridal and groom's suites are available. After the ceremony, the carillon peals from the tower.
The basic ceremony fee covers the minister, musician, wedding coordinator, custodial staff, candelabras and unity candles, an hour-long rehearsal, and use of the main floor for up to three and a half hours. Optional add-ons include aisle candles, a flag-free sanctuary, and a reception in the downstairs Fellowship Hall, which holds up to 200 people, or use of the Madonna Room. The building itself, with its 1914 Spanish Revival sanctuary, stained glass, and grand organ, is one of the main reasons couples choose to marry here.
The Dickens Festival
Every February, the church hosts the Royal Victorian Music Hall and Queen's Tea as its contribution to Riverside's annual Dickens Festival. The basement of the church is transformed into a candlelit music hall seating 80 guests, where a multi-talented cast led by Christopher Marsh as Mr. Treacle stages an original Dickensian musical comedy. Guests are served a high tea with authentic English scones, finger sandwiches, and real English tea. The event is one of the church's biggest annual fundraisers, and a sign-up sheet for volunteers and food donations appears in the coffee hour room in the weeks leading up to it.
Giving, Space Rental, and the Wider Church
Generosity keeps the church's ministries alive. Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 1648, Riverside, CA 92502. Online gifts can be made through PayPal; donors are reminded that PayPal charges a service fee, so a check or an in-person gift at the Parish House stretches each dollar a little further. The church building is also available for rent, with small and large meeting rooms, a sanctuary that fits up to 500, a lower floor with a modern kitchen, a large banquet space, and a stage, all wired for multimedia. Through the Mission and Wider Church Ministries Board, the congregation is connected to the wider ministries of the United Church of Christ at home and around the world.
The church is a member of the Southern California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ, and is affiliated with the UCC's Open and Affirming Coalition, Pilgrim Pines Camp, and other partners in the region. The Riverside Free Clinic holds its biweekly clinic at the church.
To watch Sunday services live or on demand, visit the church's livestream page.