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The women of the church played a key role in the conflict. As early as 1939 they led the formation of a local chapter of the American Red Cross, an organization founded by Universalist Clara Barton. They were soon rolling bandages and conducting blood drives for the war effort. Through the Red Cross the churchwomen got a strong interest in health issues. They would go on to found and largely staff the Ladies Auxiliary to Memorial Hospital and some would later found Easter Seals of McHenry County.

War came early and hard to the Congregational Universalist Church. Thomas Lounsbury, the twenty-year-old son of leading church members Robert and Florence Lounsbury was killed on the battleship Arizona on December 7, 1941. He was the first McHenry County casualty of the war. The 48 star American Flag still carried to the Civil War monument in the Square for Memorial Day services every year was donated to the church in Lounsbury's memory.

The post-war years were good ones for the church. Membership grew as young families joined the congregation and finances, although never totally secure, ceased to be an ongoing crisis amid the affluence of the post-war boom. But the congregation received a crushing blow when Rev. Aldridge died unexpectedly in January of 1949. Aldridge had been deeply loved and was considered a leader among Universalists despite spending his entire career in rather small country churches like the one in Woodstock. His widow long remained an active member of the congregation and a timely bequest at her death helped the church weather a latter financial crisis.

Only three ministers served the congregation in the 14 years after Rev. Aldrige's death-Rev. Leslie J. Tuck, 1949-1954; Rev. Robert C. Anderson, 1954-1957; and Rev. Weston A. Stevens, 1957-1963.

Services in those years were generally familiarly Christian in form, but the tone expressed the warm-hearted generosity of spirit associated with Universalism. The increasing interest in world religions among Universalists of the time also found its way into worship services. The author of a 100th anniversary monograph on the history of the church commented, "…both the congregation and ministerial leadership have deliberately minimized the use of denominational labels and classifications. This attitude has led to a certain inevitable weakness in denominational ties. However, to more than compensate for that, a strong sense of unity and harmony, so essential to an autonomous group such as this one, has been maintained and strengthened."

An important part of the worship experience in those years was provided by the extraordinary twenty-year tenure of Grant Nolan as music director. Frequently referred to as "an inspired musician", under his leadership the Adult Choir achieved a reputation as the finest in Woodstock.

Improved roads and the 1950's love affair with the automobile had its affect on the congregation. The church reached out beyond Woodstock for membership and gradually became more of a regional and less of a "town" church. Members began to drive in from McHenry, Crystal Lake and Harvard drawn by the unique message of liberal religion. Because Congregational churches were available in other towns, most of these new members were attracted by the Universalist identity of the church. Thus the long, slow process was under way by which the numbers identifying themselves as Universalists, and latter Unitarian-Universalists, gradually surpassed those of the founding Congregationalists.

Denominational realignments during these years had different affects on the congregation. In 1957 the Congregational Church in America with other Protestant denomination, notably Reform churches of German origin and some Brethren churches, to form a new denomination, The United Church of Christ. The Congregation very narrowly voted to affiliate with the new denomination, with substantial numbers of members preferring to become an independent Congregational Church with continuing affiliation with the Universalists. Even after affiliation with the UCC, the congregation seldom called on the denomination for services or participated in denominational affairs.

On the other hand when the Universalist Church in America merged with the larger and more organizationally sound American Unitarian Association in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association it spelled major changes for the local church. The UCA and AUA were theologically close and had been flirting with affiliation for years. Universalism was a waning movement which retained a distinct Christian feel while the AUA was robust and growing and was then dominated by Humanist thought. But together, they made a major voice for liberal religion.

The Ministry of Weston Stevens from 1957 to 1963 symbolically bridged these years. Although ordained a Universalist, like many young ministers of his generation he shared much of the Unitarian outlook. Under his leadership, worship broadened to include more material from world religion sources and Humanism in addition to traditional Biblical and Christian sources. He also took a high visibility, activist roll in the community sitting on the boards of numerous local charities and leading the Woodstock Ministerial Association. He used his annual summer sabbaticals to travel widely in the world, bring back the riches of his experience to both worship and the community. The travel included one memorable trip to the Soviet Union to participate in the opening of an American exhibition there. He witnessed the famous "Kitchen Debates" between Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev. On his return he became an advocate for people to people understanding, peace and disarmament. Stevens's dynamic leadership brought the church to it highest membership in decades.

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