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In 1914, Pilgrim Congregational Church was established in downtown
Chattanooga by The Rev. Charles Haven Myers and a group of about 100 people from
First Methodist Church who sought doctrinal liberty and a church life with
freedom from outside powers. After meeting in temporary spaces for several
years, Pilgrim Church began construction of a new church building at the corner
of Oak and Lindsay in 1921.
The current building at 400 Glenwood Drive was built in 1959. Two
years before, the Congregational Christian Churches joined with the Evangelical
and Reformed Church to create the United Church of Christ (UCC). Pilgrim became
a member of the UCC in 1961.
In the 1960s, Pilgrim Church took a leading role in the Civil
Rights Movement in Chattanooga, speaking out against racial inequality and
prejudice.
In the 1970s, Pilgrim Church continued its leadership in the
community by striving to bring about racial justice, equal rights, and
ecumenical cooperation.
The Rev. Dr. John W. Mingus was called as our pastor in 1995.
Pilgrim Church grew as an inclusive and diverse community living its mission.
Pilgrim sponsered a refugee family from Bosnia, helped bring the Interfaith
Hospitality Network to Chattanooga, and sponsered a refugee from Sudan.
In 2003, we formally voted to declare ourselves an Open and Affirming Church in the
United Chuch of Christ. In February of 2008, The Rev. Dr. David C. Brown was chosen as our pastor.
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