Billings First Congregational Church
The Reverend Benjamin F. Shuart founded the First Congregational Church in May 1882, only two months after Northern Pacific Railroad investors established Billings. Since then, the church has served as a place of worship and a stalwart advocate for civil rights, human dignity, and social justice. In November 1883, carpenters replaced a temporary church building with a permanent, Tudor-Revival style brick building. During construction, Shuart raised funds to build the city’s first public school and organized the Billings Literary Society (a precursor to the Billings Public Library). In the early 1900s, the church promoted women’s suffrage efforts and provided food, clothing, and medical aid to Billings residents. In 1918, the church became an emergency hospital during the influenza pandemic. To accommodate growing membership, church leaders commissioned a north-side Parish House wing in 1928, adding classrooms and assembly spaces. An education wing followed in 1951, and the current Modern style addition replaced the 1883 church and part of the 1928 addition in 1957. Church efforts during the Great Depression addressed poverty, and after World War II, refugee resettlement. From the 1960s through the 1980s, the congregation created affordable housing, opened a childcare center, and offered food programs for the elderly and disabled. Fighting racism and hate speech in 1993, the congregation encouraged Billings residents to display paper menorahs in their windows to support the Jewish community and all victims of hate crimes. Thousands participated, attracting worldwide attention and inspiring the national “Not in Our Town” movement. First Congregational Church remains the oldest operating congregational church in Montana.
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