our heritage

The story of the First Federated Church of Peoria is one of tragedy, faith, patience, understanding and success.

The First Congregational Church was organized on the last Sunday in 1834. The final church building was built in 1883 at a cost of $89,000 plus $5,000 for the organ. The beautiful church, sometimes called the Protestant Cathedral of Peoria, was destroyed by an all-consuming fire in 1936. The parishioners and minister, the Rev. Kyle Booth, stood across Hamilton Boulevard and wept for the loss of his church and his extensive library. After some weeks of considering options, the congregation was invited to join in worship at the Second Presbyterian Church. It, too, was a beautiful church made of natural stone with a magnificent interior. Although it is no longer a house of worship, the building still stands today on the bluff above Interstate 74 in the heart of the city.

Shortly after the fire, members of both churches began to talk about legally joining forces. They discussed and then drafted a "federation agreement" in 1937 that brought the best of the Congregational and Presbyterian traditions together. Expectations for a grand new church building were part of the plan. Those expectations were realized on January 22, 1950, when First Federated Church—the new Protestant Cathedral of Peoria—was dedicated with proper pomp and circumstance.

Presbyterian Church (USA)

United Church of Christ


	> visitor info > our leadership > church staff > our heritage > the federation agreement		our heritage The story of the First Federated Church of Peoria is one of tragedy, faith, patience, understanding and success. The First Congregational Church was organized on the last Sunday in 1834. The final church building was built in 1883 at a cost of $89,000 plus $5,000 for the organ. The beautiful church, sometimes called the Protestant Cathedral of Peoria, was destroyed by an all-consuming fire in 1936. The parishioners and minister, the Rev. Kyle Booth, stood across Hamilton Boulevard and wept for the loss of his church and his extensive library. After some weeks of considering options, the congregation was invited to join in worship at the Second Presbyterian Church. It, too, was a beautiful church made of natural stone with a magnificent interior. Although it is no longer a house of worship, the building still stands today on the bluff above Interstate 74 in the heart of the city. Shortly after the fire, members of both churches began to talk about legally joining forces. They discussed and then drafted a "federation agreement" in 1937 that brought the best of the Congregational and Presbyterian traditions together. Expectations for a grand new church building were part of the plan. Those expectations were realized on January 22, 1950, when First Federated Church—the new Protestant Cathedral of Peoria—was dedicated with proper pomp and circumstance. Presbyterian Church (USA) United Church of Christ


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