On June 21, 1846, the first services were held in the Old First Church. It continued as the center of the religious, cultural, political and public life in Galesburg for many years. The congregation was composed of both Presbyterian and Congregational believers.

The two denominations had agreed to a “Plan of Union” in 1803. It was an attempt to cooperate in proselytizing in the states which were later known as the Midwest. A parting of ways began when the Congregationalists insisted they could not associate with slavery in any form, whereas the Presbyterian members in the southern states were often slaveowners..

In 1851, Reverend George Washington Gale and thirty-seven members withdrew from Old First Church. They organized the First Presbyterian Church. Both churches continued to flourish with increasing memberships.

The members of the Old First Church changed the name to the Church of Christ in 1858. Nevertheless, in the popular mind, it continued to be known as the Old First Church. A few years later, a group of members decided to establish the First Congregational Church. It was domiciled in a new brick building on South Broad Street. The first pastor of the church was Edward Beecher of the famous family of preachers.

In 1895 the Old First Church and the First Congregational re-combined and named their church Central Congregational. They decided to build a new edifice. The Old First Church was torn down in December of that year. The new building would stand on the site of the former church on the Public Square.

Gottschalk and Beadle, a Galesburg architectural firm, designed the new building and O.C. Housel was the contractor. A Romanesque style building of red sandstone was selected. The auditorium was constructed in a semi-circle for the best sight lines and sound distribution. Two thousand worshipers could be accommodated during services.

The cornerstone was laid June 10, 1897, and the facility was occupied on December 5, 1898. The church was filled to capacity at afternoon and evening dedicatory services. The newspapers of the day reported at length about the up-to-date features of the new building. The sermon of the Reverend Clarence A. Vincent, D.D., pastor of the congregation, was reprinted in full.

Central Congregational Church cost $75,000 (more than $2 million in today's money) to erect. Beautiful stained glass windows were installed in the church commemorating pioneer families of Galesburg. A large organ enhanced the church services.

The Brick Church on South Broad Street, the daughter of Old First Church, was sold to Knox College for $10,000 with the Central congregation forgiving half the cost. It was named Beecher Chapel in honor of the first pastor. It would continue to serve the college as a chapel and the Conservatory of Music. In 1966 the old brick building was torn down to the regret of many citizens of Galesburg.

Knox College and Central Church continued to have a close relationship with commencement exercises being held in the church for many years. Funerals were conducted from the church for many well known Galesburg citizens, such as Mary Ann “Mother” Bickerdyke, a Civil War nurse; Mary Allen West, an original settler and Women's Christian Temperance Union lecturer; veterans of the Civil War; former mayors of the city and several men who had served in the United State Congress.

Today the church is in need of repairs and restoration. Current members of the church hope to raise enough money to save one of the most beautiful buildings in Galesburg.

Carl Sandburg was not a member of the Congregational or Presbyterian Churches in Galesburg. His family belonged to the Lutheran denomination, which had a sterner theology. Nevertheless, Sandburg 's appreciation for Old First Church was great. In his writing he expressed admiration for the fortitude and determination of those pioneers who contributed their labor and time, because they had little money, to erecting of the Old First Church. He knew their faith had been strong and their sacrifices had contributed to the upbuilding of the city of Galesburg.