In 1848, an unorganized group of German immigrants, most of them former members of the various state churches in Germany, banded together to build a new church building. Two years later, in August of 1850, the group formally organized themselves as St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church. Despite the name, the congregation was a Union (joint Lutheran/Reformed) one from its founding until 1867, when the Lutheran members split to form St. Mark's Lutheran Church. The Reformed members remained at St. Paul's, eventually renaming the church "St. Paul's Evangelical Church" (later "St. Paul's United Church of Christ").

On April 4, 1864, the congregation voted to obtain "a new musical instrument suitable for a larger church than ours," ultimately purchasing a harmonium for $125. The current church building was erected in 1871, and shortly afterward, the ladies of the congregation purchased a pipe organ for $1,350. This was replaced in 1911 with the Hinners organ that remains, with alterations, in the church today.

Sources: the 75th, 125th, and 150th anniversary histories of the congregation, available on the church website