The town of St. Johnsbury owes much of its early development to the invention of the platform scale by local manufacturer Thaddeus Fairbanks, who was a significant contributor to the Congregational denomination. Originally known as North Congregational Church, the United Community Church building was designed by noted Vermont architect Lambert Packard, who worked for the Fairbanks company and designed many of the town’s historic structures. Inspired by an unexecuted design by Henry Hobson Richardson, the Victorian Gothic building was completed in 1881. The building includes Romanesque features and a façade of rare Isle La Motte stone. The church was also home to the family of Dr. Bob Smith, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The local recovery community feels a deep sense of partial ownership of the building, where support groups continue to meet six days each week.

United Community Church operates as an unofficial community center, hosting over 40 non-profit and civic organizations annually. For decades the church has hosted a weekly community meal, which currently serves about 150 people a week in partnership with Kingdom Community Services and St. Johnsbury Academy. The church also hosts other groups, such as a domestic violence prevention program, Council on Aging classes, a non-profit bicycle workshop, and neighborhood groups. With a sanctuary capacity of over 400 people, United Community Church also hosts major community events like concerts, including the performances for the First Night festival, which draws thousands of people to the town. In 2024, thousands of visitors viewed the solar eclipse from the church’s lawn.

In July 2025, a mason identified critical safety issues during a routine repointing project. While a 2023 ground-level assessment suggested standard maintenance, closer inspection revealed deterioration creating life-threatening overhead hazards. The church has been forced to close entrances and redirect visitors to ensure community-serving programs can continue safely within its building.

An Intervention Fund grant of $50,961 awarded in 2026 will help United Community Church install secure fencing around the perimeter of the facility to ensure safety for pedestrians. The funding will also support work to sound and stabilize loose masonry. Emergency masonry work has also been supported by a grant from the Vermont Department of Historic Preservation.

Photo by Betty Keller