Our Church's History
Founded on October 10, 1866
Our Church celebrated its 150th birthday in October 2016. The articles of incorporation were filed on October 10, 1866. Wailuku Union Church started as a church celebrating Christ’s presence in an environment where English was spoken as a second language. The first churches established on Maui in 1823 were missions to the Hawaiian people. But by the mid-century, the Wailuku Sugar Company was formed, and more English-speaking people moved into the Wailuku area. This became the impetus for an English-speaking church established here.
Christopher Lewers and Edward Bailey laid the foundation for our church and persuaded the Rev. Thomas Thurston from Kona, to come and pastor of the Foreign Church of Wailuku. A small, framed church was built on the corner which now is occupied by the County Planning Offices. The Rev. Thurston stayed for two years before moving to the mainland. The church then sought the help of the Rev. William P. Alexander, missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, called to serve Central Maui. The Rev. Alexander never officially became the minister of the Wailuku Union Church, but he led the congregation often through the years, helping them secure ministers, preaching, conducting services, serving on the trustees and caring for the parish between pastors. The church parsonage is affectionately named after him. He and his family of 9 children lived in the Alexander House for many years.
After the Rev. Alexander retired, the church went through a difficult period. The church records indicate that for ten years, Edward Bailey was the only member of our church. But in 1905 he called the Rev. Rowland P. Dodge to be its pastor and the church was reopened. The Rev Dodge was a remarkable pastor. Soon new members were added, a Sunday School was organized and by 1910 a sizable congregation was gathered.
Along with building the congregation, The Rev. Dodge was also saddled with the building of a new sanctuary. The county asked for the land on which the church stood. So, the Rev. Dodge orchestrated the move and building of our church at its present site. Emroy and Webb of Honolulu drew the plans for the new sanctuary. On May 12, 1911, the corner stone was laid. Stones for the walls were gathered from the fields of Wailuku Sugar Company and Iao Valley. A local stonecutter carved stones and even fashioned the stone cross that was hoisted on the top of the roof. The beautiful stained-glass windows were ordered from a company from New Jersey and a pipe organ was installed.
The Rev. Richard H. Ritter was the pastor of the church from 1948 to 1957. During this time the Congregational and Christian Church and the Evangelical-Reformed Churches joined together to form the United Church of Christ. Wailuku Union voted in 1956 to be part of this new denomination.
The Rev. Ritter retired in 1957 and the Rev. Emerson J. Sanderson served for the next 13 years. The Rev. George Baybrook followed and served for the next 20 years from 1970 to 1990. The Rev. Robb Y. Kojima is the current pastor beginning at Wailuku Union Church in January 1991.
Today the congregation reflects Maui’s current diverse ethnic population. In 1942 the Wailuku Chinese Church disbanded and many of its members joined Wailuku Union Church. In 1991 a Jewish Congregation used Dodge Hall for their services. The Greek Orthodox held their services in the sanctuary in 2003 and in 2005 the church opened its sanctuary to an emerging Samoan Congregation. We continue to serve God and the community in many different ways through loving God, following Jesus and sharing God’s grace and mercy.
Christopher Lewers and Edward Bailey laid the foundation for our church and persuaded the Rev. Thomas Thurston from Kona, to come and pastor of the Foreign Church of Wailuku. A small, framed church was built on the corner which now is occupied by the County Planning Offices. The Rev. Thurston stayed for two years before moving to the mainland. The church then sought the help of the Rev. William P. Alexander, missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, called to serve Central Maui. The Rev. Alexander never officially became the minister of the Wailuku Union Church, but he led the congregation often through the years, helping them secure ministers, preaching, conducting services, serving on the trustees and caring for the parish between pastors. The church parsonage is affectionately named after him. He and his family of 9 children lived in the Alexander House for many years.
After the Rev. Alexander retired, the church went through a difficult period. The church records indicate that for ten years, Edward Bailey was the only member of our church. But in 1905 he called the Rev. Rowland P. Dodge to be its pastor and the church was reopened. The Rev Dodge was a remarkable pastor. Soon new members were added, a Sunday School was organized and by 1910 a sizable congregation was gathered.
Along with building the congregation, The Rev. Dodge was also saddled with the building of a new sanctuary. The county asked for the land on which the church stood. So, the Rev. Dodge orchestrated the move and building of our church at its present site. Emroy and Webb of Honolulu drew the plans for the new sanctuary. On May 12, 1911, the corner stone was laid. Stones for the walls were gathered from the fields of Wailuku Sugar Company and Iao Valley. A local stonecutter carved stones and even fashioned the stone cross that was hoisted on the top of the roof. The beautiful stained-glass windows were ordered from a company from New Jersey and a pipe organ was installed.
The Rev. Richard H. Ritter was the pastor of the church from 1948 to 1957. During this time the Congregational and Christian Church and the Evangelical-Reformed Churches joined together to form the United Church of Christ. Wailuku Union voted in 1956 to be part of this new denomination.
The Rev. Ritter retired in 1957 and the Rev. Emerson J. Sanderson served for the next 13 years. The Rev. George Baybrook followed and served for the next 20 years from 1970 to 1990. The Rev. Robb Y. Kojima is the current pastor beginning at Wailuku Union Church in January 1991.
Today the congregation reflects Maui’s current diverse ethnic population. In 1942 the Wailuku Chinese Church disbanded and many of its members joined Wailuku Union Church. In 1991 a Jewish Congregation used Dodge Hall for their services. The Greek Orthodox held their services in the sanctuary in 2003 and in 2005 the church opened its sanctuary to an emerging Samoan Congregation. We continue to serve God and the community in many different ways through loving God, following Jesus and sharing God’s grace and mercy.