Our original building
Laying the 1962 cornerstone
Celebrating our pilgrim traditions in the 1960s
Original sanctuary as it appeared in the 1990s
Vacation Bible School 1995
Major remodel of the church and grounds, raising the new steeple and installing the cross in 2006
A small group started worshipping together on Palm Sunday of 1960 at Spring Creek School, which is still located a few blocks east of the church. Early the next year, January 5, 1961, sixty-three members chartered the church and called Rev. Nielsen for their first minister. Under his leadership, they built the church building which included the original sanctuary, offices, and first classroom complex, laying the cornerstone in 1962. Spring Creek people began to celebrate their pilgrim heritage and the grace of God that had called forth this church. The first services in the new building were held on Palm Sunday, 1963.
Our Pastoral Leadership:
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Richard J. Nielsen, Organizing Pastor (1960-1964)
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Wilbur H. Bartholomew (1965-1973)
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John P. Jewell, Jr. (1969-1971)
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Daniel Schifeling (1971-1975)
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Walter B. McMullen (1974-1979)
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Merle G. Steva (1980-1993)
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Eric S. Dale, Interim Pastor (1993-1994)
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Jack W. Kraaz (1994-2000)
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Janet A. Schleter, Interim Pastor (2000-2001)
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Michael O. Simmons (2001-2012)
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Joanne Buss, Associate Pastor (2004-2007)
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Sue Ebersold, Interim Pastor (2012)
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Ivan Schoen (2012-2017)
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Steven L. Welker, Interim Pastor (2017-2019)
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Joanne Buss, Interim Pastor (2019-2021)
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David Sheridan (July 1, 2021 to present)
Spring Creek United Church of Christ in the 21st century
Our present worship sanctuary
History of Spring Creek Church
On February 1, 1960, Rev. Richard J. Nielsen and his family arrived to start two new churches in the Rockford area. These churches later became known as Spring Creek Congregational Church and Woodside Congregational Church. They were among the last churches started by the Congregational Conference before the merger into the United Church of Christ.
