First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1868 with a membership of 38 at its present location at the southeast corner of Chicago Avenue and Lake Street. Its first pastor was Dr. George C. Noyes of La Porte, Indiana. In 1875 the original building burned to the ground and the church was rebuilt on the same site. Twenty years later, in February of 1894, fire again destroyed the church.

Because of the two fires the growing congregation decided that its next building should be fireproof. The current church, designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, was constructed from Lemont limestone and opened September 4, 1895.

In 1926, a large addition provided more classroom space along with offices, a chapel (later converted to a choir room), and a gymnasium. In 1962 the church dedicated the 200-seat Walker Chapel and youth building at the south end of the church property named in honor of the Rev. Dr. Harold Blake Walker who served as Senior Pastor of the congregation from 1947-1968.

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