Park Ridge Community Church has a long and exciting history. In 1843, a small group of early settlers along the Des Plaines/Chicago River portage decided to set aside their denominational differences and meet at a schoolhouse on Sunday mornings for worship and church school. By 1848, the group had the resources to build a meeting house.

After the Civil War, the first permanent minister, Rev. J. H. Laird, was hired in 1868, and the church became formally affiliated with the Congregational Church. In 1873, the triangle of land on which the current church stands was donated, and in 1876 the first structure was completed with donated labor and brick from local brickyards.

The turn of the 20th Century was an unsettling time for the Church. From 1891 to 1911, records show a total of 11 ministers. In 1913, an attempt was made to combine with the Methodist Church. For four years, the two congregations met as a federated church, and it was with great reluctance that they separated. Thereafter, our church was reorganized as a Community Church.

The 1920's brought stability and growth with the hiring of the first associate minister and the leadership of Senior Minister Charles Clayton Morrison, then editor of the Christian Century. In 1922, with the congregation numbering 200, Orvis Fairlee Jordan began what was to be a 35-year pastorate. Dr. Jordan oversaw many changes in the church: the Community House (now the Great Hall) was added in 1925; the old Gothic sanctuary was replaced in 1951 with the current Georgian structure.

Other ministers who followed Dr. Jordan continued the tradition of long pastorates. In 1957, Rev. Tom Maurer became senior minister and served until 1969. He was succeeded by Jack Irwin who served until 1977 when Douglas C. Runnels began his 12-year ministry. During Dr. Runnels' tenure, the Church emphasized its ecumenical roots and individual spiritual growth.

Rev. Paris Donehoo served as senior minister from 1991 to 2000. Dr. Donehoo was ordained by the Lost Mountain Baptist Church in Roswell, Georgia. It was during this time that the church strengthened its ties with the United Church of Christ.

Our current minister, Rev. Dr. Brett McCleneghan, came to us in 2001.