First-St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois

In 1829, there were only 100 people living in Chicago, Illinois. Once the harbor was built and the first ship arrived in 1834, the city began growing exponentially. By 1840, Chicago had a population of over 4,000 people, and German immigration was gaining speed. Many of the immigrants were feeling “churchless and godless,” longing for a place of worship to bring their community together. In 1843, nine men and several women met on the corner of Franklin and Lake Streets in a grocery store to discuss this pressing issue. The result of this meeting was the organization of the first Lutheran congregation in all of Chicago. The name ‘St. Paul’ was chosen for the congregation, and five of the men were given the task of obtaining the permits needed for the building of the church, along with the task of actually constructing it. The group went to William B. Ogden, Chicago’s first mayor, for advice on the location of the church, as well as advice on fundraising. Ogden provided the St. Paul congregation with a plot of land on the corner of LaSalle and Ohio Streets. It was a very simple building design, fitting the congregation’s desire for a modest house of worship.

First-St. Paul Lutheran Church was completed in February 1844, measuring only 30 feet by 60 feet. Membership of the church quickly outgrew the building’s size, and so with its first pastor Augustus T. Selle, a new chapel was built only a few blocks away on Grand Avenue. In 1847, twelve congregations, twenty-two ministers, and two candidates formed the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States. The constitution that was finalized in 1847 is still used today, with minor alterations. One of the most distinct and important amendments of said constitution was that the use of strictly Lutheran books were to be used not only in church but in school as well. This amendment became a subject of great controversy in the next century, but was still one of the most defining characteristics of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod. A second imperative decree was the emphasis on the freedom of individual congregations. The church as a whole did not exercise authority over distinct worships or worshippers, and this is still of great importance today.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed the third St. Paul church- but not before Pastor Heinrich Wunder was able to heroically rescue vital records from the church. With contributions from The Missouri Synod, the church was rebuilt within a year, and the church retained its general structure as the congregation continued to grow throughout the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. In 1949, with Pastor James Manz at the helm, the neighborhood began to change more rapidly than it had in recent decades. Large economic and cultural differences arose, with the poor and the rich living side by side. This created an interesting challenge for Pastor Manz and the church, as the neighborhood struggled with businesses closing and buildings becoming abandoned. The 50’s were the most challenging decade for the church, but with Pastor Manz’s enthusiasm and dedication to find community outreach programs, the church was soon flourishing again. By 1961, Sunday School attendance had reached at 170, the largest since the mid 1930’s.

With congregation strength up again by the late 1960s, it was decided that a new, simple building would be erected. The church was designed by architect Edward Dart with curving walls to create a new sense of closeness among the members of the congregation. The building was dedicated in October of 1970, and was meant to express the “working ministry of the church.” The use of many different materials in the construction of the church, specifically the contrast between granite and wood, are meant to symbolize the “union between the congregation and the sacrament.”

Today, First-St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church teaches about all of the same beliefs and concepts on which the church initially laid its foundation. It has kept consistent with its focus on the teachings of Martin Luther and his reforming peers. Additionally, the church teaches about the love of the Triune God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity), which are combined to represent God. Through worship, educational programs, community meals, fellowship, various conversations and discussions, and concerts, the church embodies the importance of its central beliefs of grace alone, scripture alone, and faith alone.

Bibliography

“First Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Church History.” First Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. <http://www.fspauls.org/church_history>.

Wentz, Abdel Ross. “Chapter 17: Immigration and Confessional Reaction.” A Basic History of Lutheranism in America. Philadelphia: Muhlenberg, 1955. N. pag. Print.

Wolf, Edmund Jacob. “Chapter 12: The Missourians.” The Lutherans in America: A Story of Struggle, Progress, Influence and Marvelous Growth. New York: J.A. Hill, 1889. N. pag. Print.