Our HIstory
The Christian Church of Vacaville was founded on October 4, 1854 and is Vacaville's oldest continuously meeting church.
The first meetings were held in a school house on Arculus Hawkins ranch. They soon outgrew the school and a church was built on the banks of Alamo Creek at the edge of Oiler's Gum Grove. A large pool was dug and the creek waters were used for Baptisms. Today this is the location of Eleanor Nelson Park. As the congregation grew, it was decided that a new church should be built in Elmira for the 47 members living there and in 1872 the first Services were held in the new building at the corner of First and Hazen Streets. The Oiler's Grove building was placed on log rollers and horses towed the building to its new location on Catherine Street in Vacaville.
After moving the church to Vacaville the congregation grew to 222 members by 1880 and plans were begun for a new church home. It would take until 1891 before the enormous sum of $6,780.35 had been pledged to cover the costs and a contract was awarded to George H. Sharpe calling for completion in 90 days.
In 1929 the church again moved to a new home on College Street, near the location of the bridge from Kendal Street to the Creekwalk in Andrews Park. Here it remained until in 1965 when a larger new home at the current location on Vine Street was dedicated. This new four acre location has provided room to expand without the need to relocate.
The Christian Church of Vacaville is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ denomination. In 1984 members of the American Baptist Church of Vacaville began meeting with the Disciples congregation, and is 1985 the two congregations voted be become one congregation, yoked to two demoninations.
Our church on "Holy Hill" is familiar to many Vacaville residents as it has been the location of the Vacaville Ministerial Association's Easter Sunrise Service since the 1960's.