Our History
When Porterville founder Porter Putnam began laying out a new town in 1864, his wife, dismayed by the "wild west" feel of the village, insisted he set aside three lots for churches. The present building, located on the corner of Fourth and Mill Streets, was completed in 1908 and was placed on the National Historic Registry in 1998.
Since its inception, it has served Porterville as an important community center. Providing not only religious services but multiple uses for the entire community, with culture, education, recreation, and respectable entertainment - meant to help tame the rough and tumble town. The church still provides a home for gatherings of community groups such as Scout troops, quilters, and musical concerts.
Music has been an important part of the Congregational church since the beginning. The church maintains two Steinway pianos, and a magnificent pipe organ, which is still used today. The pipe organ is the oldest functioning Wurlitzer in California. It was built in 1916 to accompany silent films in a Los Angeles movie house. It was delivered to the church in 1931.
It is played every Sunday for worship services and silent films can be shown in the sanctuary with full accompaniment for the community's enjoyment. Its magnificent voice may well resound for another hundred years.
The area's citrus economy is depicted in a cluster of three oranges and leaves in the stained-glass windows. Many congregants believe that this motif depicts the Christian doctrine of the Trinity.
As the peals of the carillon bells from the First Congregational Church steeple drift over Porterville's downtown, residents are reminded daily that the church is a longstanding element in the city's life. It is an audible indicator that the church continues to server its community well into its second century.
