For the Glory of God and the Benefit of MenMILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH
December, 1939 - A group of five persons met with the Mission Board of the Prebysterian Church to voice their wish for worship services in English and to seek the cooperation of the Mission.
February 25, 1940 - The first service of the American Church was held in “El Redentor” Chapel of the Prebysterian Mission, located about a block from the Capitol building in downtown Caracas. Services were held every other Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
June 2, 1940 - The Constitution and By-laws were presented and approved. There were 15 present at this meeting who were those considered to be the founding members.
March 12, 1944 - Sunday school was started.
January 14, 1945 - John R. Gosney was installed as the first pastor of the church.
February, 1945 - Church services and Sunday school began to be held every Sunday at “Colegio Americano” in “Bello Monte”.
June, 1946 - The Church Council authorized the purchase of a building site for the construction of a church in el “El Bosque - Caracas” (our present location). The land cost Bs. 32 per square meter.
January, 1947- Both membership and church attendance rose above 100 for the first time.
October 12, 1947 - The first service was held in the Fellowship Room of the newly constructed educational portion of the church.
April, 1949 -- “The American Church” sponsored the presentation of The Messiah by Handel for the first time in Venezuela; it was sung by 70 voices at the Municipal Theater to an overflow crowd.
August 28, 1949 - The first service was held in the present sanctuary, although the construction was not completed and neither the pews nor the stained glass windows were in place.
July, 1950 - The Austrian stained glass windows were installed.
October 21, 1951 - A dedication service for the completed church was held. A “pinch” of soil from each of the 48 U.S. states and 13 other countries represented in the congregation was placed in a silver box under the communion table.
January 27, 1965 - The name of the church was changed to “The United Christian Church of Caracas” to reflect the change in the composition of the congregation, and in keeping with its motto: “in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things charity.”