Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

What Wellesley Hills Congregational Church does

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church (operating as Hills Church) is an independent, self-governing congregation within the United Church of Christ, founded in 1847 in what is now Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, and currently serving more than 600 members. The church operates from a single campus at 207 Washington Street, comprising a Sanctuary, Wallace Chapel, and Parish House, and runs Sunday worship at 10:00 AM both in person and via YouTube livestream. It is an Open and Affirming congregation with documented historical commitments to abolition and progressive reform, and is supported by a staff of seven including a Senior Minister, two Associate Ministers, a Director of Music, a Children's Ministry Director, a Church Administrator, an Evening Sexton, and the Director of the Wellesley Nursery School.

The church's product surface is organized around worship, faith formation, music, care, and community service. Core offerings include traditional Sunday worship with Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir accompaniment, twice-yearly Special Music Sundays, children's and youth ministries (using the Godly Play curriculum), adult Bible study and meditation groups, and a portfolio of care and outreach programs. Since 1968 the church has operated the Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills (WNSH), a licensed non-denominational preschool that is open to the general public and serves as both a community-facing service and a tuition revenue source. Operational technology is conventional: the Realm database (accessed via web and Realm Connect mobile) handles member directory, giving history, events, and groups; the onRealm platform processes online giving; YouTube handles livestreaming and recorded sermons.

Revenue is generated through a diversified set of voluntary contribution streams rather than a single pricing model: Sunday tithes and offerings, online one-time gifts and recurring pledges, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, appreciated securities donations, and grants from donor-advised funds, alongside Wellesley Nursery School tuition and modest ticketed concert series revenue (Saturdays at 4, $30 general / $20 students & seniors). Distribution is primarily in-person regional worship at the Wellesley Hills campus with a global online streaming reach via YouTube. The church has no disclosed revenue figures, no parent company, no outside investors, and is governed by its members through an elected Church Council and support boards (Deacons, Stewards, Christian Service, Faith Formation).

Name

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

Legal name

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church

Website

https://hillschurch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1847

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church (Hills Church) is an independent United Church of Christ congregation in Wellesley Hills, MA, serving 600+ members with Sunday worship, multi-generational faith formation, music programs, community outreach, and the Wellesley Nursery School preschool.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Faith formation programs
• Early childhood education
• Pastoral care services
• Community outreach ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellesley Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional Sunday morning donations and contributions made during worship services or by mail to the church office at 207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
2. Online Giving: Digital donations through onRealm.org platform for one-time gifts and recurring pledges
3. IRA Distributions: Qualified charitable distributions from IRAs for donors 70 1/2 or older, up to $100,000 directly transferred to the church, tax-advantaged giving option
4. Stock/Securities Donations: Appreciated financial assets donations allowing donors to receive tax deduction for full fair market value while avoiding capital gains taxes
5. Donor Advised Funds: Donors contribute to DAFs for immediate tax deduction, then recommend grants to the church over time
6. Wellesley Nursery School Tuition: Licensed non-denominational preschool program created by the church in 1968, open to the general public, generating tuition revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church delivers weekly Sunday worship services (in-person and online), sacramental services (baptism, weddings, funerals), music ministries (Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Special Music Sundays), and year-round faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults. It also operates Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills, a licensed non-denominational preschool for infants through Pre-K, and runs a community outreach program supporting food insecurity, homelessness, and international missions.

Product overview

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church offers a unified portfolio of worship, faith formation, and community service programs. Core offerings include Sunday worship services (in-person and online via YouTube), music programs (Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, Children's Choir, Special Music Sundays), and comprehensive children and youth ministries. Adult programming includes Bible study and meditation groups. Community outreach encompasses partnerships with organizations serving food insecurity, homelessness, and international missions. The church also operates Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills (WNSH), a licensed preschool established in 1968. Digital giving is managed through the onRealm platform integrated with the Realm membership database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly in-person and livestreamed traditional worship services held every Sunday at 10:00 AM featuring prayers, hymns, scripture, sermon, and choir music. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month. Available to all members of the Wellesley community and online viewers.
• Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills (WNSH) Licensed non-denominational preschool offering play-based, hands-on early learning for children from infants through Pre-K. Open to the general public (not restricted to church members) and generates tuition revenue.
• Baptism, Wedding & Funeral Services Sacramental services including baptism for all ages, weddings in the sanctuary or Wallace Chapel, and funeral coordination with clergy officiation. Available to members and the wider community.
• Chancel Choir Adult choir that provides music leadership for weekly worship services, performing a wide range of repertoire from Palestrina to contemporary composers, often accompanied by professional instrumentalists.
• Handbell Choir (The Hills Bells) Handbell choir performing on a 5-octave set of Schulmerich handbells and Malmark handchimes, playing varied repertoire across the liturgical year and collaborating with other musicians.
• Special Music Sundays Twice-yearly worship services (Advent and Lent) featuring major musical works performed by the Chancel Choir with chamber orchestra, replacing the spoken sermon.
• Children's Ministry Faith formation programs for children from infancy through 5th grade including Church School (K-5), Nursery, Godly Play curriculum, Bible Presentation, and service opportunities.
• Youth Ministry Middle and high school youth programs featuring Sunday worship participation, Youth Group gatherings, Confirmation Class, and youth-led service projects.
• Adult Ministries Adult educational and spiritual growth programs including Tuesday meditation group, Thursday Bible study, museum tours, and various study sessions on faith pioneers.
• Community Outreach & Service Programs Service programs through partnerships including African Indian Alliance, Family Promise, Habitat for Humanity, Food Pantry, Honduras Hope, and annual service trips including youth mission trips.
• Caring for Others Ministries Support and care ministries including Care Team, Prayer Shawls, New Beginnings (grief support), Seniors Ministry, and Women's Ministry providing community and pastoral care.
• Saturdays at 4 Concert Series Ticketed public concert series featuring musical performances by Hills Church ensembles and guest artists; General Admission $30, Students/Seniors $20.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SNEUCC (Southern New England United Church of Christ) Green Congregation ChallengecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHills Church participates in the SNEUCC Green Congregation Challenge program working through four levels: Getting Started (educate), Creating a Plan, Building Momentum, and Expanding Impact. The church's Green Team organizes environmental initiatives including recycling, composting, and educational programs about creation care and sustainability.
• African Indian AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrives to improve lives of Siddis (descendants of Africans in Karnataka, India) through education, health access, and micro-financing. The church has partnered with local Catholic Sisters and Fathers for service delivery, with several members having traveled to India for direct support.
• Family Promise MetrowestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransforms lives of families with children facing homelessness through shelter, education, and comprehensive support. The church previously hosted families in Sunday School classrooms and continues to provide hot dinners, tutoring, and other contributions to the permanent shelter site opened in 2022.
• Wellesley Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Wellesley Food Pantry is housed in the church's buildings, providing supplemental and emergency food assistance to residents of Wellesley. The church provides space and volunteers for this community service.
• Common Cathedral / Feed the Hungry MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes chronically unhoused adults in downtown Boston by building community and providing spiritual care. The church's Feed the Hungry Ministry Team delivers sandwiches and cookies monthly.
• Habitat for Humanity / ReStoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilds homes, communities, and hope. Church members participate in construction (ages 16+) and non-construction roles at ReStore warehouse. Recent work on a Worcester site with three townhouses.
• Honduras HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmpowers marginalized people in rural Honduras to create stronger, self-sufficient communities through service trips (pre-COVID). Recipient of recent Christmas Offering.
• The Outdoor ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes homeless and street-involved men and women in Cambridge, MA. Hills Church youth donate food and clothing monthly to individuals supported by this ministry.
• Wellesley Energy CoachingminorOthersNo-cost guidance from volunteers trained in clean energy technologies, recommended for Wellesley residents considering home energy changes. Referenced during Green Home Day event.
• Wellesley Municipal Light PlantminorOthersRepresentatives from Wellesley Municipal Light Plant attended Green Home Day event to discuss sustainable home features including solar panels and energy efficiency.
• Wellesley Climate ActionminorOthersLocal climate action organization whose representatives attended Green Home Day event at a LEED Platinum certified home.
• GLOBAL H.O.P.E. (UCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Relief for Haiti through the United Church of Christ. Beneficiary of Pumpkin Patch sales to support continued humanitarian relief efforts.
• A Better Chance (ABC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides academically talented young women of color from underserved communities enrollment at Wellesley High School with residential program support.
• A Path In The WoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpens doors of opportunity and exploration for young people searching for their path in life who need financial or other assistance to begin their journey.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Episcopal Church of St. Martin: Episcopal parish where Music Director Dr. Cooper previously served. Comparable in music-led traditional worship, though differing in denomination.
• Simple Church (Grafton, MA): Dinner church planted by Associate Minister Rev. Zach Kerzee. Comparable in progressive Christian identity and UCC roots, though operating in a different service-delivery model.
• First Baptist Church (Lafayette, IN): Mainline Protestant congregation where Music Director Dr. Cooper previously served. Comparable in adult choir and music ministry scope, though differing in denomination and geography.
• Worcester Fellowship: Outdoor/worship ministry for the unhoused previously led by Associate Minister Rev. Zach Kerzee. Comparable in progressive Christian identity and community service orientation, though operating in a different model (street ministry vs. parish).

Direct peers

• St. James Episcopal Church (New London, CT): Mainline liturgical church where Music Director Dr. Will Cooper previously served as organist/choirmaster for seven years. Highly comparable in choral/handbell music program depth and parish worship model.
• First Congregational Church of Holliston, MA: UCC-Congregational church previously employing Associate Minister Rev. Van De Wege. Direct peer in denomination, suburban Massachusetts setting, family-life ministry emphasis, and progressive identity.
• Harvard Memorial Church: Mainline Protestant chapel where Senior Minister Rev. Page previously served as undergraduate chaplain. Comparable in progressive Protestant identity, music-rich worship, and educated-constituency engagement model.
• First Congregational Church of Houston: UCC-Congregational church previously led by Hills Church's current Senior Minister Rev. Jonathan Page. Directly comparable in denomination, congregational polity, progressive identity, and worship-music programming model.
• Memorial Congregational Church (Sudbury, MA): Nearby Congregational/UCC-affiliated church previously served by Hills Church's Associate Minister Rev. Christine Van De Wege. Highly comparable in suburban New England mainline Protestant context, family ministry focus, and worship style.

Others

• Village Church (Wellesley Congregational):

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKnhvHNjbzntoSiRSvu3hZg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wellesley-hills-congregational-church

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wellesley Hills Congregational Church