Our Story

First Christian Church of Mattoon was founded in 1861 on land donated by James Cunningham, a friend of Abraham Lincoln. One block away, right in the heart of Mattoon, Central Community Church was established in 1925. Over 250 years of combined worship services separate from one another. “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” God had plans!

In September 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Central Community Church found itself without a pastor. People knew people, pastors knew pastors. Leaders from both churches met to discuss the situation. Skepticism ruled at the mention of a merger. But God’s ways are not our ways! After much prayer and fasting, it was decided to proceed with the merger. 18 months later these two neighboring churches began to worship together in unity as United Christian Church. God is good!