Growing and Serving Together in Faith, Hope and Love
A church with a heart for God and a place for everyone.
Since 1915, Hillyer Memorial Christian Church has welcomed people to worship, serve, build meaningful relationships, and grow in faith together. Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, we are a community of followers of Jesus, called by God to nurture a growing community of disciples.
Some churches may focus on what they want from you. At Hillyer, we are more concerned with what God wants for you: a worshiping community, holy friendships, a dynamic spirituality, a sacred purpose, joyful generosity, and a faith worth sharing.
We believe church is more than a building or a Sunday morning service. It is a community where people encounter God's love, discover their gifts, care for one another, and put their faith into action. Whoever you are and wherever you are on your journey of faith, there is a place for you here.
A Legacy of Serving Raleigh
Every great story has an origin, and Hillyer has been part of the story of compassionate ministry in Raleigh for more than a century. Throughout our history, members have recognized needs in the community and asked a simple question: What can we do to help?
In 1974, one Hillyer member, Juliette, recognized the challenges faced by people unable to prepare their own meals because of illness or limited mobility. She gathered ten other women in Hillyer's kitchen, and together they began preparing meals for neighbors in need. That small act of compassion helped launch what became Raleigh's Meals on Wheels program, now part of Meals on Wheels of Wake County, serving more than 1,400 homebound adults each day.
Years later, Hillyer provided a gathering place and kitchen for early efforts that helped Maggie Kane begin her dream of creating A Place at the Table, Raleigh's pay-what-you-can café. These stories reflect something fundamental about Hillyer: meaningful ministry often begins when ordinary people see a need and respond with extraordinary love.
Our commitment to service continues today through a variety of missions including the Appalachian Service Project mission trips, the Christmas Angel Tree program, disaster-relief efforts with Church World Service, the annual CROP Walk, hygiene-kit projects, Rise Against Hunger meal packaging, working with refugees, and Will Be Fed bags shared with neighbors experiencing hunger. From local outreach to mission work beyond our community, we believe ministry does not stop at the church doors. The church goes beyond its walls to serve the world.
Faith That Welcomes and Connects
Hillyer is a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. We are also part of the Christian Church in North Carolina, sharing in ministries that include camps and conferences for children and youth.
We value education as an important expression of faith and service. We support public education, maintain close connections with colleges and universities, especially the many denominational colleges and universities (https://www.helmdisciples.org/colleges-and-universities) and offer scholarships to members pursuing higher education or seminary studies. Our congregation also hosts the Hillyer Community Chorus, bringing together singers from across the Raleigh area and from different faith backgrounds for two concerts each year. Through music, fellowship, and service, we create opportunities for people to connect across the boundaries that too often divide us.
Your Story Belongs Here
For more than 100 years, Hillyer has been part of Raleigh's story. As we look toward the next century, we remain committed to being a church that loves God, serves others, creates a safe space where all people are welcomed, accepted and loved, and keeps discovering new ways to share Christ's love with our neighbors.
We are not a perfect people, but we are a community growing together in grace, learning together in faith, and serving together in love.
Come worship with us. Find your community. Discover your purpose. Help us make a difference in Raleigh and beyond.
At Hillyer Memorial Christian Church, there is room for you.
Help us to live out our Mission to Growing and serving together in faith, hope and love.
You can follow these links to learn more about the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - You may find the section About the Disciples especially helpful.
Storytelling
This storytelling video reflects the heart of our church through the voices of our own members. Individuals share their personal experiences, how they found Hillyer, the relationships they’ve built, and the ways their faith has grown within our community. Each story offers a glimpse into what makes Hillyer more than a church, it is a place where people are welcomed, faith is strengthened, and genuine connection happens. Watch this short video below to meet some members who make our church family what it is.
