The church quickly outgrew the rooming house, so it was decided to purchase property for a church building. Rev. Page wanted to buy lots near the rooming house but another person wanted to buy lots along University Avenue. Rev. Page, being a strong-willed man, won. He began a building campaign in the community with some of the best givers being Catholics. Some refused to donate because they thought there were already too many churches in the two towns. James Funkhouser, a local banker (and one of the charter members of the church) donated a lot at 606 E. White Street for the new building where a small building was built with church members supplying most of the labor. Members wanted to call it Page Chapel, but Rev. Page wanted to call it the Christian Church. Thus, in the fall of 1894, the first Christian Church in Champaign-Urbana was dedicated.

In 1885, the congregation decided to officially call a minister. Some wanted Rev. Page but others thought he was too old at 65. He would not accept the position unless the call was unanimous. It was not. The north wing of the Student's Home burned in early 1885 and was not replaced. Rev. Page sold the Student's Home property and he and his family moved to Bloomington, Illinois. He later moved and began preaching near Kansas City, Missouri. Later the family moved to Manville, Wyoming, while being too feeble to stand, he preached sitting in a chair. He died in 1892 and was buried at Manville but his body was later moved to Olympia, Washington to the Masonic Cemetery when his family moved there.

Following Rev. Page was B.R. Heffley who served for less than a year. Names also listed as serving were B.N. Anderson and James McMillian. During periods when there was no regular pastor, some members of the congregation filled in. Membership was thought to be about 100 persons at this time.

The Rev. Samuel Sylvester Jones took the pulpit in the fall of 1887. Known as "Sunday School Jones", Rev. Jones oversaw seven years of growth of the Christian Church. The church outgrew its building and around 1890 was enlarged to about twice it's original size. Youth groups were added even though some of the members thought they were unscriptural. Twenty-two girls formed the Sunflower Club to promote social life and Christian service. In 1892, Rev. Jones helped to organize the Christian Church in Rantoul. After much thought and prayer, Rev. Jones accepted a call to the Christian Church in Danville, Illinois, in September of 1894.

Following Rev. Jones were four pastors in eight years. First was B.L. Allen, a young, recently married young man. His wife helped organize the Junior Christian Endeavor Society.

W.H. Cannon took the ministry January 1, 1896. Little information is available as to how long Mr. Cannon preached, but it was 1896 and part of 1897.

E.C. Stark followed Mr. Cannon as minister and he served until 1899. Some surviving treasurer's books showed Mr. Cannon was paid $650 (an average of $12.50 per Sunday). About 200 giving members were listed for 1899. Total expenditures for the year were $781.48. Fifty-two dollars were for janitor services, $6.17 for State work, $5.86 for Foreign Missions, leaving a remainder of $68.55 which was used to pay for coal, lights, repairs, etc.

In the fall of 1899 the congregation decided not to hire Mr. Stark for the following year and a search was begun for his replacement. During the period of December 1899 through February 1900, four men were paid small sums probably for preaching trial sermons.

W.P. Shamhart became the new pastor of the church in March of 1900. Mr. Shamhart had a large family of 11 children. Again the congregation had outgrown its building, so it was decided that it was time to build a bigger church. A lot was purchased at the southwest corner of Springfield Ave. and Wright St. for $2,000. The change in location was unanimous in spite of the fact that the little White Street Church was very dear to the hearts of many of the members. With plans moving along for a new building, Rev. Shamhart was compelled to resign due to "throat trouble."