It was around 1917 when plans were first discussed relating to the building of a new church edifice. The initial step was to purchase in January 1917, for $35,000, the Wetherell Estate on "Court Hill" situated on the north corner of State Street next to the Unitarian Church. The building was then being used as the headquarters of the Visiting Nurses Association.

  A few years later, Grace Methodist Church on Walnut Street and Trinity Methodist Church at the corner of Main and Chandler Streets agreed to unite and to build a new church building to be known as Wesley Church. For this purpose they acquired the property on the south corner of State Street and proceeded to plan for and to build in 1927 the cathedral-like edifice which is now located there. With this development, it was felt by our church officials that it would not be proper to have three churches side by side at the Court Hill location. Consequently we gave up plans for our church on that site and we discussed the possibility of converting the building, which we owned to apartments for rental income while we searched for a new location. When the Unitarian officials heard of this, they immediately offered to help us find another piece of property on which to build our church. They did not look kindly on having an apartment house next door to their church with the possibility of weekly laundry hanging out to dry on the back porches.

  It just so happened that many of the men active in the affairs of the Art Museum and the Stephen Salisbury Estate were also members of the Unitarian Church. It was therefore arranged that we would dispose of our Court Hill property to the Unitarian Church in exchange for the privilege of purchasing the land at the corner of Salisbury and Lancaster Streets from the Trustees of the Art Museum and/or the Salisbury Estate. This took place in 1923.

  Plans for the church were drawn up by Henry C. Eckland, architect and the groundbreaking service was held on June 6, 1926. Harold P. Johnson was the contractor and architect, G. Adolph Johnson, supervised the construction. The cornerstone was laid on September 26, 1926 and the first service was held on April 3, 1927. The pastor at that time was the Reverend Edwin S. Dahl.