The first official organization of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in La Grande was formed in 1889 with its members meeting in a red brick schoolhouse in Old Town. However, Christian preachers had held services as early as 1866 and possibly earlier since the first permanent homes in the Grande Ronde Valley were constructed in 1861 following the 1859 statehood of Oregon.

Re-organization of the Christian Church congregation fell to the leadership of J.M. Jenkins, the first regularly-called minister in 1891 when the Statement of the Church of Christ and a Charter Membership list was made. The congregation of 1895 voted for incorporation as the First Christian Church of La Grande, Oregon with Articles of Incorporation drawn-up. In 1898 the purchase of the Washington Fir Site with its Carper School meeting hall was made and used until 1900 when O.H. King was called to the pastorate.

A lot at the corner of Depot and Washington was purchased and the first church structure was built. That church building was moved in 1913 to the corner of Penn Avenue and 7th Street. In 1939 the 50th anniversary of the La Grande Church was observed at this location. At this time plans to build a new church structure were begun.

It wasn’t until 1951 that an educational unit could be constructed on the new site purchased in 1947 at 901 Penn Avenue. The Fellowship Hall upstairs served as the sanctuary until the new sanctuary could be built adjoining the educational unit in 1954. Since that time the church family and its building have undergone gradual changes and continues to serve the community well. The 100th anniversary celebration of the First Christian Church in La Grande was held at the present location in September 1989.