First Congregational Church of Madison is easily recognized by its signature bell tower, a landmark that has graced the local landscape for 75 years. Less visible and more compelling is the diverse, progressive and vibrant community of faith that calls First Congregational Church home.

First Congregational Church is a dynamic and welcoming community of 500 unique and valued individuals, families and friends.

Our worship service is always full of music, including hymn singing, organ preludes and postludes, choral anthems and a cappela introits. On selected Sundays, we have instrumental and vocal soloists, handbells, and children's music.

Vocal Choirs: Chancel Choir and Cherub Choir

Handbell Choirs: Coventry Ringers (Adult), Chapel Ringers (Adult), Celebration Ringers (5th through 12th grade).

First Congregational UCC is the home of the chamber music ensemble Con Vivo. Formed in 2002 by church members Kathryn and Robert Taylor and church music director Don DeBruin, Con Vivo presents two concerts each season featuring little-known and seldom heard chamber music of all eras. Currently, the ensemble consists of two violins, viola, cello, string bass,clarinet, flute, French horn, bassoon, oboe, and organ.

Other musical organizations of Madison also make use of our sanctuary for concerts. These include the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and its annual "Sing Out Messiah" in December, and other holiday concerts by Madison Area Concert Handbells and by Perfect Harmony, the Madison area gay men's chorus. Other frequent guest performers include the Festival Choir of Madison and several local folk music ensembles.

Musical Instruments at First Congregational
Holtkamp Pipe Organ
The organ has 38 "ranks" or sets of pipes, consisting of more than 2,300 individual pipes made of metal or wood.

Sanctuary Grand Piano
The sanctuary grand piano was made by the Steinway Piano Company during the 1920s. It is believed that the piano was one of three originally ordered by a school in the western part of the state, and then sold off at a later date.

In addition, the church owns two other grand pianos, located in the Fellowship Room and the Chapel, as well as four spinit and upright pianos by various makers.

Whitechapel Handbells
Our five-octave set is the largest set of Whitechapel handbells located in the area.

Malmark Handchimes
In addition to five octaves of handbells, the church also owns five octaves of handchimes, made by the Malmark Handbell Company. The handchimes do not look like bells but rather like long, metal tubes with a slot at one end. Handchimes have a softer, more mellow sound than handbells. They also have the advantage of being lightweight and very durable, which makes them ideal for use by children and youth.

If you would like to view or listen to our recent sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive section of our web site.

Join us for fellowship, fabulous music, and fun!

Visit: firstcongmadison.org

First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
1609 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53726

Phone: 608-233-9751

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