History

The United Church of Moscow, 51 years old in 2020, can trace its local history back more than 100 years.  The First Baptist Church (American Baptist) and The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations voted to merge in April 1969, with the first combined meeting held May 11, 1969.  Both congregations began in the Moscow area in the mid-1870s.
The Disciples of Christ established their church in 1875 at Paradise Valley in the Hog Heaven schoolhouse.  Nathan Matheny, a pioneer minister in the vicinity, organized the church.  Due to various causes the congregation diminished in number during the 1880s.  The church reorganized in 1889 and services were held in borrowed churches and rented halls until 1891, when a house of worship was erected at the northeast corner of 5th and Jefferson.
In the spring of 1876 the Rev. S.E. Stearns, a Baptist, began preaching services in the McGuire schoolhouse.  Rev. Stearns organized the Zion Baptist Church of Paradise Valley on August 5, 1876.  In 1878 the membership concluded to movie into Moscow and changed the church name to Zion Baptist Church of Moscow.  While in Moscow in the late 1870s the church met in the McDonald Hall on the east side of Main Street, between 2nd and 3rd Streets.  A. A. Lieuallen promised land for a church building and in March 1879 the church instructed the building committee to begin building a church house.  The first meeting was held January 31, 1880 in the new building prior to its completion on February 6, 1881.  The church then changed its name on March 1, 1884 to First Baptist Church of Moscow.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) continued to add on to their building in the late 1880s and early 1900s.  In 1923 they voted to build a new brick church behind the post office, on 3rd Street.  On June 29, 1924 the building was dedicated.  
The third church building of First Baptist Church that now encloses the present sanctuary was dedicated in 1939.
The First Baptist Church membership voted in 1963 to remain at their present downtown location.  Under the leadership of Rev. Max Oliphant the education unit was completed in 1964.  During the pastorates of Richard Skoogland of the Disciples of Christ Church and Richard Crader of First Baptist Church, plans were formed concering a merger of the two local churches.  In the spring of 1969 the two churches united.  Both Revs, Skoogland and Crader, resigned.  Rev. James Dyson was called to pastorate.
The churches had decided not to build until 5 years after the merger.  In 1975, under the leadership of Rev. Mel Taylor, the decision was made to remodel and enlarge the fellowship hall and sanctuary.  The project was completed in September 1976, with the dedication on October 16, 1976.

[History stops here– in 1981.  Additional history needed, 1981-2020]