The history of the Congregational Church of Austin, Texas had its beginning when twelve charter members of the Methodist Church of Austin signed Articles of Incorporation on March 21, 1901, and filed them with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas on April 2. 1901.
The Articles of Incorporation were filed on behalf of a group of fifty-six prominent and influential Austin men and women who had been members of the First (than better known as the Tenth Street) Methodist Church when the Reverend Richie J. Briggs was the pastor from 1896 to 1898.
Dr. Briggs held four degrees: B.A., D.D., M.D., and L.L.D. (honorary). He had served as a Methodist minister in a number of the states, beginning in 1874. He was a brilliant scholar in the fields of literature, philosophy, natural science, and in religion. He was widely known as a gifted and forceful pulpit orator. He was very tolerantt in his views regarding controversial dogmas which, since the rise of Protestantism, have widely dispersed the followers of Christ under differing denominational, creeds and standards. During the years 1899 and 1900, he was stationed at Austin for evangelization within the Texas Methodist Conference.
In January of 1901, he accepted the invitation of the aforementioned fifty-six members of this church, who came to be know as "The Old Guard," to again be their pastor.
The Methodist Church of Austin held its services in the Odd Fellows Hall located on the second floor of a two-story brick store building at the northeast corner of East Ninth Street and Congress Avenue. Under the inspiring leadership of Dr. Briggs, the membership in the church and in the Sunday School increased rapidly in the next few years, and, in 1906, a beautiful, large church was erected at the corner of West Ninth and Colorado Streets. Mr. A. O. Watson, a charter member of the church, was the architect. This building project was made possible by means of a liberal grant of money and a substantial loan to run for many years at a very low rate of interest from the Congregational Church organization. To qualify for the loan the congregation voted to change its name to First Congregational Church. The influence of the church and the Sunday School increased through the years, and the membership attained the numerical figure of two hundred and fifty, and the Sunday School had nine classes with a membership of ninety.
Unfortunately, Dr. Briggs became seriously ill in 1921, and it became necessary for an assistant pastor to take over many of his duties and services. As this condition continued for several years, the attendance at church and Sunday School decreased considerably. It was then that a majority of the church members decided the best interests of the church would be served by the sale of the property at Ninth and Colorado Streets and the erection of a new sanctuary in the neighborhood of The University of Texas. This was accomplished, and, in the fall of 1923, the present building at 408 West 23rd Street was dedicated. The beloved Dr. Briggs had passed away on the 18th of June of that year. Mr. Hugo F. Kuehne, a member of the church, was the architect. He utilized many of the beautiful stained glass windows from the former sanctuary in creating a very lovely chapel.
Many members of the University faculty and their families, as well as students, became members of the church, and on May 12, 1939 the name was changed to The University Community Church. In the early 1940's it was changed to Congregational Church of Austin which is the present name.