Our History
We held our first worship service on July 27, 1868. The service was held in a timber structure on our present site. This was to be the first of three churches that First Presbyterian called home. In November of that year our first Pastor arrived in the person of Dr. George Clement Noyes.
In July of 1876 a new church building was dedicated after the original church burned down. However, this church only stood for 8 years. In February of 1884, the second church burned to the ground. The congregation met in the Baptist church while our current building was being constructed. Daniel H. Burnham, the famed architect who was the inspiration for Chicago’s lakefront, designed the new church.
The church is constructed of Lemont limestone, with an interior finish of red oak and Georgian pine. The sanctuary is ninety by seventy-five feet, and with the balcony, seats eleven hundred persons. Over the next couple of generations the church experienced remarkable growth. In 1921, the church budget was $53,305 and there were 1390 men, women, and children in Sunday School.
Due to needed space, in 1926, a large addition provided more classroom space along with offices, Chapel, and gym (Roy Hall). Dr. David Hugh Jones was our Pastor during this time. We have had six Pastors from 1932 to present.
