This post includes the congregations of the Methodist, Episcopal, & Baptist
First Up ...
The Methodist Churches:
Sheffield Avenue Methodist Church
Township of Lake View
District of Lake View
the building as it looked in 2009 per Google Rascher's Atlas Map
1887 below
with a zoomed view below
image above - 1882 The Syllabus Vol 4
Church Philosophy
Mental Gymnastics 1886
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
1923
the church was gone and replaced by a business
with a zoomed view below
from a
church to a business
Episcopal Church
City of Lake View
Community of Lincoln Park
photos by Erick Alliz Rogers/Open House Chicago 1867—1889
The congregation formed after $500 was spent converting a barn into a small church to serve Chicago’s north side Episcopalians. When the congregation grew, a small wood-frame church was completed in 1869 at the intersection of Lincoln, Belden and Orchard. It served as a refuge for victims of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
1889—1910
The current site of Church of Our Saviour (more of their history) was purchased and the church and rectory were completed in 1889. (The parish hall building was already at 530 Fullerton Parkway and had served the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.) It was a period of prosperity for the Lincoln Park neighborhood—all five of our stained glass windows were commissioned in this period, the first being a Tiffany window. Note: In November of 1889 the City of Lake View voted for annexation to the City of Chicago.
1891 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
2024
Details revealed for Church of Our Savior $9M
‘Neighbors are finally getting a look at what’s planned for in the large $9.2 million expansion and addition on the rear of the Church of Our Savior, 530 W. Fullerton.
Last week details were released for the new community center in Lincoln Park. Located just west of the intersection with N. Clark St., the center would sit behind the Church which will continue to occupying the facility.
The new space on Fullerton Pkwy., shared with the Episcopal Church of Our Savior, will include a health clinic, offices, and a commercial-grade kitchen. The project is being led by local nonprofit Care for Friends, with MKB Architects working on its design. The groundbreaking took place in March.
Three days a week, Care for Friends provides more than 9,000 hot meals annually to the homeless or individual in need, along with healthcare services, substance abuse treatment and even podiatry. Individuals may also get seasonal clothes when getting their meals.
The fundraising for this facility has been going on for years, but a $3-million taxpayer-funded state grant allowed the project to commence. Care for Friends hope the construction will be completed by Spring 2025.’ – per Inside Booster
Ravenswood Methodist
Episcopal
Township of Lake View
City of Lake View
currently
Community of Uptown
postcards - Chicago History in Postcards
In December 1880, a charter was obtained in conformity to the laws of the State of Illinois creating the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ravenswood. The present sanctuary building was built in 1889 – 1890. The Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church was formed on August 2, 1987 as the result of a merger between Ravenswood UMC, whose history dated to 1872, and Christian Fellowship UMC, formed by Japanese Americans who relocated to Chicago from internment camps during and after WWII.1891 Rascher's Atlas
zoomed below
photos below - Chicago Sojourn
photos below - Yelp
the community house belowDiversey Boulevard
Methodist Episcopal
District of Lake View
Community of Lincoln Park
postcard - Chicago History in Postcards
and below
photo - Iglesia Cristiana Unida
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
zoomed from above
1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
merger in 1963
later a new congregation moved in
Iglesia Cristiana Unida
(United Christian Church)
Community of Lincoln Park
Sept 2024Elim Swedish
Methodist Episcopal
District of Lake View
Community of Lake View
postcard - Chuckman Collectionpostcard below- Chicago History in Postcards
Condos by 1983
Evanston Avenue
Episcopal Methodist Church
aka
Broadway United Methodist Church
3338 N Broadway StreetDistrict of Lake View
Community of Lake View
the name of the street changed to Broadway in 1913
so too the name of the church changed its name, as well
the building to right of his postcard is the current rectory
Original building 1901-1983
On a Monday, July 27, 1891, a committee made up of Charles Busby, Charles Lasher, Reverend Dolliver and A.D. Traveller, selected the church site on the corner of Evanston Avenue (Broadway) and Buckingham Place. This site was purchased and the church building construction began. On August 2, 1891, 15 persons were received into the society by letter and on probation. By 1901, the membership was up to 175 persons. Worship services were held in the basement until 1901 when the congregation decided to complete the building. It was dedicated in June of 1902 with Reverend R.E. Saunders as Pastor in charge. The Evanston Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was designed by architect E. Hill Turnock. He also designed the Brewster Apartments at the corner of Diversey and Pine Grove Avenue, which is only a few blocks from the church. The Brewster is an official Chicago Landmark building. Turnock was also associated with Frank Lloyd Wright. - website
The original church was built of blue bedford stone with a red tile roof. The interior was finished in oak with a large truss ceiling and was completed in 1902. The sanctuary seated 450 congregants.
Protection is Called
in 1911
a page from their 1926 directory - image Ebay
Name Change
in 1913
Opinion on the
Name Change
in 1941
A Clinic to Open
in 1946
Fire in 1983
started in basement
page - East Lake View by Matt Nickerson
the current church - Ebay
the newer church photos- Lake View Patch 2012
Serving his Flock in 1998
The pastor, Rev. Greg Dell, of this church conducted a same-sex marriage ceremony on church property - a violation of church policy at the time and more than a decade before
it became legal in the United States.
Reverend Dell in his church
photo - Chicago Tribune
photo - Michael Greene via Associated PressRev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church protests outside the Broadway United Methodist Church Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998 in Chicago. Rev. Phelps and family members came to the church to protest a September marriage between two gay men officiated by Methodist Rev. Gregory Dell.
A church with "a wonderful history of being involved in and advocating for social justice movements" is now "ignoring the
pain it causes" to a segment of society, he said in 2009
In the year 2000 ACLU of Illinois Gay and Lesbian Rights Project's annual John R. Hammell Awards brunch honored
in 1992
Centennial German
Methodist Church
District of Lake View
and later called
Church of Chicago
at Sheffield and Wellington
Community of Lake View
image - Chicago: City of Neighborhoods
During the height of World War II in May of 1943, Rev.
Sadaichi Kuzuhara was led of the Lord to leave Granada Concentration Camp and
come to Chicago. His vision was to start an evangelical ministry among the
Japanese who were displaced due to the concentration camps. Soon after, in June
of 1943, the first cottage meeting of Isseis (first generation) and Niseis
(second generation) was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Yoshida on Fullerton
Avenue; 16 were in attendance. In
September of 1943 with the help of Dr. Ironside, then pastor of Moody Memorial
Church; opened Moody’s Torrey Chapel as a place of worship to Rev. Sadaichi
Kuzuhara and his congregation. It would be known as Japanese Christian Church
at Moody. The magnitude of this event can be appreciated when reflecting upon
the times. The United States was engaged in a war with Japan in the Pacific,
and Japanese and Japanese-Americans were held captive in concentration camps
throughout the western part of the United States. Because of this, there was
opposition to the Japanese congregation’s use of Moody’s facilities.In 1949 the
Japanese Christian Church at Moody moved to the northeast corner of Sheffield
and Wellington and changed it’s name to Lakeside Japanese Christian Church.
In
1997 Lakeside sold their church building in the Lakeview neighborhood and for 4
years rented South Park Church in Park Ridge, Illinois. In 2001 Lakeside
purchased its’ current church building and changed the name of the church to
Lakeside Church of Chicago. - from their website
1891 Rascher's Atlas Map.jpg)
the church on Bluecher was the first location for Mt. Carmel church before the move to Belmont Avenue
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
now called the Centennial German Methodist
zoomed below
Gross Park
Methodist Episcopal Church
1657-59 W School Street
pre 1909 address
703-707 Schools Street
*no photo or articles found*
District of Lake View
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps:
in 1894
in 1923
and same location in 1950
The First Korean
United Methodist Church
826 W Oakdale Avenue
(not photo yet)
text above - Korean Americans in Chicago
text below - Ethnic Chicago A Multicultural Portrait
Episcopal Churches
of Lake View:
Township of Lake View
City of Lake View
Community of Lake View
photos - Art Institute of Chicago The impetus to form an Episcopal Parish in Lake View was
provided by a large group of local women in the 1880s. Their efforts to form a
new parish were initially rebuffed, due to the presence of other prominent
north side parishes. Diocesan financial resources were limited, and the Diocese
felt that the Board of Missions would be hard pressed to find adequate funding.
The women, however, were persistent. St. Peter's first service of Evening
Prayer was read read in the front parlor of Mrs. Charlotte Givens's home at
1734 Fletcher Street (now 624 West Briar Place) on May 28, 1887 (Whitsunday, or
Pentecost). Under Samuel Cook Edsall and Frederic W. Keator, St. Peter's
mission was organized immediately following that service. One month later, on
the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, arrangements were made for services to be
held in a store front on Clark Street. Read more from link above. - their website
article from
1964
Lake View anniversary magazine
The original location on Flechter Avenue currently Briar Place in 1887 and then in 1894 before the congregation moved
to Belmont Avenue
as a graphic reference to the 1887 above
their current home on Belmont Avenue below
postcard - Chicago History in Postcards
1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map below
with a pre 1909 address of 1737 Belmont Avenue
Evanston Ave = Broadway
A Thanksgiving Service
in 1898
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
photos - Lake View Patch 2012
photos - their website
photos - Steve Clarke via Forgotten Chicago on Facebook
who donated the Russian iconic wall piece to the church
The Congregation Built
a Settlement House (for the poor)
3212 N Broadway (Evanston Avenue)
Apparently St. Peter's held a respectable amount of property along Belmont and Broadway (once Evanston Avenue).
This new five-story brick Gothic style structure
was to be a Hull House-like settlement house in 1910 and was ultimately used as Jane Addams Center
(Hull House affliliate in the 1960's -1990's)
*The building on Broadway was reconfigured in the late 20th century and is currently used as the Lake View Athletic Club*
image above - Jeff Hamrick via LakeView Historical-Facebook
a 2012 service below - per their website2015 photoChurch Renovation Plans
began in 2018
per a online conversation on their FB page in 2020
'We moved out of the building in 2018 to get started on
the process of renovations. That was a long process of discernment, working
with architects and now contractors. We're scheduling the beginning of
construction now, and we will plan to re-occupy the building in 2021 (hopefully
close to the middle of the year). We were also able to save quite a bit of money by moving
out and holding our services on Wellington Ave. Church of Christ - in their basement while we decided how to move forward
with our own building.'
The Rectory was Sold in 2018
to be privately developed
the floor plans below
The façade remains but for the interior ...
A Tour in 2022
reported with photos by Liz Zoller Cohen
The tour showcast the latest structural renovations
to the original building interior
There were a couple dozen people there. They had two main
presentations - one by a member of the Victorian Society, and another by a
former seminarian from St. Peter’s. The event also included a performance by
the church’s organist. I will send names/details of all three of those when I
email the photos, as I don’t have the program in front of me right now.
As for details I didn’t know, it was mainly things about
boundaries and original locations of buildings, including many wonderful photos
from various sources like the library’s digital archives, but they also cited
your blog as an outstanding reference for anyone interested in more info!
I loved seeing photos and drawings of buildings near
places I’ve lived (e.g., the mansion on Briar just west of LSD - I lived at
3130 N. LSD for six years) or frequented (various sites up and down Clark and
Broadway). I had not known of the specific history of the church
itself, in that it was originally built at Briar and Orchard, then physically
lifted and moved to its location on Belmont, where it was covered and expanded
until it ultimately became the parish house with the current church built next
door along the alley.
The interior renovations are stunning! They resumed use
of the building just last September and did a lovely job incorporating elements
that came from the parish house when it was sold.
Township of Lake ViewTownship Community of Ravenswoodthe original naive photo below - The 1883 Project on Facebook
Church of
District of Lake View
Community of Lincoln Park
photo - Chicago Sojourn The congregation formed after $500 was spent converting a barn into a small church to serve Chicago’s north side Episcopalians. When the congregation grew, a small wood-frame church was completed in 1869 at the intersection of Lincoln, Belden and Orchard. It served as a refuge for victims of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The current site of Church of Our Savior was completed in 1888. The parish hall building was already at 530 Fullerton Parkway and had served the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church.
2000 photo - De Paul University Digital Collection
photo - Chicago Sojourn
photo - Chicago Sojourn
photo - Chicago SojournCuyler Methodist
Episcopal Church
Byron & Perry(Greenview)
District of Lake View
Deering Evangelistic Methodist Church
Once Lake View Township/City Church
Probably named after William Deering, a Methodist philanthropist who owned William Deering Works. Deering Works manufactured farm equipment.
1887 Rascher's Atlas Map
1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map The church was not represented in the 1923 map replaced by a manufacturing complex. I have no further information on this church.
The Baptist Churches
of Lake View:
First Swedish Baptist Church
of Chicago (in Lake View)
District of Lake View
Community of Lake View
currently called
Missio Dei Chicago Wrigleyville
image - Chicago History in Postcards
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map below
1995 text below - Touring Swedish America
a more modern view
Lake View Swedish
Baptist Church
Township of Lake View
City of Lake View
and then by 1950
Pillar of Fire Church
Community of Lake View
*church to residential*
1891 Rascher's Atlas Map
1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
just a block away to the east another Swedish but Lutheran church to be covered in another post
New Congregation called
Pillar of Fire
1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
Township of Lake View
City of Lake View
currently called
First Baptist Church of Ravenswood
Community of Uptown
postcard - CardCow
image - Ebay
1989 photos - Krueger, Robert W. via Chicago Public Library
and the current view below
Lake View
Baptist Church
exact address unknown
1901 text - Chicago Blue Book and selected names
*Otto = Buckingham Place*
Post Notes:
This post is part of a 6 part series of blog posts about 'Houses of Worship' according to faith. Most Houses of Worship have attached schools on their private property that I may or may not be highlight in any of these posts.
Read the list of all types of churches as of 1905:
Please follow me to my next post called
Important Note:
These posts are exclusively used for educational
purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should
anyone else without permission for the original source - thanks!
the building as it looked in 2009 per Google 
with a zoomed view below
2024
In December 1880, a charter was obtained in conformity to the laws of the State of Illinois creating the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ravenswood. The present sanctuary building was built in 1889 – 1890. The Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church was formed on August 2, 1987 as the result of a merger between Ravenswood UMC, whose history dated to 1872, and Christian Fellowship UMC, formed by Japanese Americans who relocated to Chicago from internment camps during and after WWII.
postcard - Chuckman Collection
Condos by 1983
the newer church
.jpg)
zoomed below
.jpg)
image - Chicago History in Postcards
1995 text below - Touring Swedish America
a more modern view
