HISTORY

“Imperial was, in the beginning, the center of all activity. Survey crews worked out of Imperial. It was where settlers first arrived to buy their land and water rights. Later, as farmers, they came to shop for tools, buy seed, and have harnesses repaired. Families came to buy groceries, talk with neighbors, and discuss the weather. In Imperial the first brick building, the first print shop, the first drug store, the first grocery, hardware, blacksmith, lumberyard, and tent hotel were built. Also in Imperial the first church in the Imperial Valley was constructed. Its founders were of the ‘Christian denomination.’

That is the beginning of our story, our own history as a Christian church in the Colorado Desert of California—later named the Imperial Valley. We were born as the Imperial Christian Church, which begat the El Centro Union Christian Church, which begat the State Street Christian Church, which begat the First Christian Church at 450 South Waterman Avenue, El Centro, California. That is our genealogy as a church.”