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Background & History

Shiloh Church was founded in 1853 as Shiloh Springs Christian Church. The first building was across Philadelphia Drive where the cemetery is now. It had separate doors for women and for men (and they sat separately too)! In 1914 a new building was built on the same site and remained until the present building was erected 1955-59.

A major arson fire in 1978 resulted in a Phoenix-like re-birth of the congregation, re-arrangement of spaces in the building, and the addition of our 55-bank Möller pipe organ.

Shiloh church is affiliated with The United Church of Christ, a united and caring denomination, which comfortably gathers together people of many faith traditions. Our music program includes singing and ringing choirs open to all ages rehearsing Sunday mornings or during the week.

The arts are very important to Shiloh as they have been to the church throughout the ages. Blessed with a marvelous sanctuary, Shiloh welcomes an amazing variety of music and other arts events such as The Dayton Jazz Orchestra, Soirees Musicales, Piano Concerts, The Miami Valley Symphony, American Guild of Organists’ Concerts, The Annual "Earth Rhythms" Concert, and on and on. An arts calendar is published which lists the events for the year. The rotating exhibit in the Shiloh Gallery Presents works by leading area artists throughout the year.

Within Shiloh Church there is so much artistic talent that an annual Shiloh Church Fair is held the weekend before Thanksgiving. Various groups within the congregation sell their arts and craft items, candy, baked goods, cheese, and the famous mincemeat! The fair includes a huge flea market, clothes store, raffles of a quilt (made by the Shiloh Quilters) and a major handmade cabinet project. All of these groups gladly welcome new participants.

The library, located on the main floor level near the entrance to the Christian education wing, contains a growing, excellent selection of books, tapes, etc., and is open during all church events with a self-sign-out lending system.