The First Church of Christ affiliated with the Congregational Association of Illinois, a relationship that gave the church full autonomy over its internal affairs. True to Blanchard’s convictions, the church took a strong public stand against slavery, liquor, secret societies, tobacco and drug use, and such worldly amusements as dancing, card-playing and theatre attendance, and it played a prominent role in banning the sale of alcoholic beverages in Wheaton.

Since people came to the college from many places, Blanchard envisioned a church rooted in evangelical Christianity but tolerant of some diversity. Those who professed faith in Christ and embraced five general covenants and nine articles of faith commonly held by 19th-century evangelicals could apply for membership. The by-laws did not specify a particular mode of baptism, nor did the early membership covenants explicitly require baptism for membership.

In 1878, differences over leadership and the stance against secret societies led to a reorganization of the church. A group left and assumed the name First Congregational Church of Wheaton. (Thirty years later, this congregation became the nucleus of First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton.) Those who continued to endorse Blanchard’s leadership took the name The College Church of Christ in Wheaton. The first pastor of the reorganized congregation was Charles Blanchard, son of Jonathan, soon to be chosen the second president of Wheaton College.

Shared statements of faith as well as shared facilities indicated the close ties between College Church and Wheaton College. Wheaton College’s first chapel served as the church’s first facilities. The church and the college next cooperated to build Pierce Chapel, a larger facility on the college campus that was better suited to both groups’ needs. In 1935 College Church sold its interest in Pierce Chapel to Wheaton College and erected its own sanctuary across the street. Growth soon mandated expansion, and an addition was completed in 1961. A new sanctuary was dedicated at the end of 1992, and a multi-purpose facility was completed in 2001.

From the outset, College Church had a commitment to outreach at home and abroad. Jonathan Blanchard left a legacy of engagement with the culture. Others soon added a strong dedication to foreign missions, Nurtured from 1891 by the Women’s Missionary Society (now Missionary Prayer Fellowship). In recent years, College Church’s goal has been to devote half of its budget to missions.

During the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy of the 1920s, some members of College Church became concerned when the Congregational Church opened merger discussions with the Universalist Association. Although nothing came of these talks, in 1929 anxiety about the drift toward theological liberalism among Congregationalists prompted a congregational vote about withdrawing from the Illinois Congregational Association. By a majority of three, College Church members opted to retain their affiliation. More than 100 members withdrew and organized Wheaton College Independent Church. A few years later, that congregation took the name Wheaton Bible Church.

In the late 1940s, the Congregational Church again anticipated mergers and ecumenical involvements that troubled members of College Church. This time, there was no controversy. The membership voted easily to sever the church’s ties to the state association and to exist as an independent church. College Church affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals, a cooperative body established in 1942 as a venue through which evangelical independent congregations and small denominations could find common public voice.

In 1963, the members of College Church of Christ in Wheaton voted to change their name to College Church in Wheaton. They took this step to avoid confusion with the Churches of Christ, a denomination with different roots and traditions from those that shaped College Church.

In the late 1970s, with the coming of R. Kent Hughes as pastor, College Church entered a period of rapid expansion. Increased ministerial staff nurtured the growth of new ministries and necessitated expanded facilities and new ministerial and support staff. An internship program exposed potential ministers to the church’s philosophy of ministry, and Pastor Hughes developed annual preaching workshops that expanded College Church’s visibility among evangelicals nationwide. In the past ten years, College Church has planted two congregations, one in Chicago and one in Batavia.

College Church’s self-description captures its historic commitments and ongoing resolve: “God’s people joyfully proclaiming Christ’s glory among the nations.”