• 1903: Mrs. M.M. Blanks attends convention at Chatauqua, NY and meets Dr. Herbert Willett of the Michigan Bible Chair and Dr. Charles A. Young of the Virginia Bible Chair

• 1904: Texas Bible Chair founded; Mrs. Blanks deeds property at 21st & University Avenue to the Christian Women Board of Missions for the Texas Bible Chair at the University of Texas

• 1905: Dr. Frank L. Jewett begins teaching TBC classes in September in borrowed space

• 1908: Two TBC buildings completed; courses taught in new buildings and accredited by UT

• 1908-1945: Courses continue and increase in popularity

• 1945: World War II ends; veterans return home and use GI benefits at UT

• 1946: Dr. Jewett retires; TBC hires Rev. Paul Wassenich as the new director

• November 3, 1946: First Sunday worship service of University Christian Church held in TBC building with 11 founding members, 20 student members, 16 associate members, and a larger group of students and friends; Dr. Wassenich served as the unpaid, temporary pastor of the new church effort

• December 12, 1946: Newly-elected UCC Board displayed interest in mission work by establishing a “Tillotson College Loan Fund” to help support the nearby Black college (later to become Huston-Tillotson University)

• September 1947: Rev. T.W. Sisterson becomes first paid minister

• Fall 1947: F. Winston “Windy” Savage, Director of the Music Committee, held UCC’s first choir rehearsal — founding one of the strongest and most enduring ministries of University Christian Church

• Early 1948: UCC began to discuss a new building to rise on the site of the TBC; a first drawing was made by Robert L. White, a Professor of Architecture at UT

• July 1948: UCC’s first building fund launched

• November 1948: Rev. Sisterson leaves

• April 1949: Rev. Lawrence Bash arrives in Austin

Read more about UCC in the 1940s here.

• 1950: Funding campaign begins

• 1952: Fundraising “Committee of 40” formed and visits UCC

• 1953: Current sanctuary construction begins

• June 28, 1953: Rev. Neil Guy to be ordained; UCC’s first ordination service

• May 23, 1954: Current sanctuary dedicated. Click here to see the invitation. Click here to see Sara Hilgers’ diary entry about the day. Click here for a typed version.

• 1956: First annual Christmas Pageant directed by Roy Cates

• 1958: Charles Cox becomes Director of the Texas Bible Chair

• Fall 1959: Construction begins on Education Building, Offices, and Chapel

• December 1959: Rev. Bash accepts call to Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, submits resignation to UCC

• April 1960: Rev. Dr. William T. “Bill” Gibble accepts call to be Senior Minister; installation in June

• April 8, 1961: Education Building, Office, and Chapel dedicated

• February 1966: Dr. Gibble resigns to accept a call in Springfield, Missouri

• July 1966: Rev. William C. Howland, Jr. called as Senior Minister

• January 1974: Rev. Howland resigns

• August 1974: Dr. Harold Dowler called to UCC

• January 1977: Clay Boyer begins “team ministry” with Harold Dowler

• Fellowship events this decade include a UCC basketball team in the City of Austin’s Parks & Recreation basketball program; the Soup & Sandwich lunch/speaker program; summer camp at Camp Christian; and church retreats, such as one at Mo Ranch attended by 130 people

• 1981: Endowment for Creative Ministry (ECM) announced

• July 1982: Dr. Dowler resigned from UCC, taking a call in Ardmore, OK

• July 1983: ECM Presentation of “God’s Trombones,” Barbara Jordan & William Warfield, narrators

• August 1983: Dr. George Ervin Crain becomes senior minister

• October 1983: Established Sunday school class becomes known as “The Seekers;” class still meets today

• April 1984: Burned mortgage for educational wing

• 1986: “A Year of Celebration” joint event for UCC (1946-1986) and Texas Bible Chair (TBC) (1905-1985); See picture 1 and picture 2

• 1987: TBC ends role teaching UT Bible courses

• September 1987: Soup and Sandwich student ministry continues

• March 1990: Endowment for Creative Ministry (ECM) presents lectures by Eugene Boring

• January 1991: ECM brings “Servant Christ” sculpture to Narthex

• February 1991: In the Time Appointed anthem by William Mathias, commissioned by ECM and dedicated to UCC, premiers with multiple church choirs performing

• May 1991: Bell choir founded

• November 1994: Sanctuary dedication after renovation

• November 1996: 50th anniversary celebration

• Also this decade:

  • Adopt-a-Student program active;

  • Bible studies;

  • Concert Cafe Wednesdays at noon in the sanctuary

  • outreach activities like CROP Walk, Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Housing, and donations to Faith Food Pantry and DOMI (Disciples Outreach to the Mentally Ill); UCC hosted & fed homeless teenagers on freeze nights

  • Fellowship activities such as CWF (Christian Women’s Fellowship) events; picnics, Sunday School parties, outings, and youth events