A church that has been an integral part of the Elmhurst community for 125 years will celebrate its anniversary Sunday.
First Congregational Church United Church of Christ of Elmhurst was the first church in the community to offer services in English, had the city’s first community center and served as the community high school for two years.
Many of the community’s early pioneers, such as the Glos family, went to the church that eventually became First Congregational.
“To hear the Glos Mansion talked about and know the Gloses went here, that changes my perspective on things,” said the Rev. Jan Davis, a longtime member of the church. “Knowing everything they went through establishing this church makes it special.”
First Congregational, located at 235 S. Kenilworth Ave., began in 1888 when three men — George Rosche, Henry Browne and C.J. Albert — agreed that it was time for an English-speaking church in Elmhurst. Starting as a Sunday school, services later started in the upper room in the public school, where Hawthorne School now sits. Then-Union Congregational Church of Elmhurst received its charter in 1890.
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Davis saw the church’s youth group as a way to meet a different set of friends than she had in school.
“I wanted to get to know more people than just the people in school,” Davis said. “There was not such chaos (like in school). We could spend more time with each other.”
Davis fell in love with the church and never left.
On Sunday, the church will welcome current and former members, as well as community residents, for a day of activities.
Bells will ring 125 times between 9:45 and 10 a.m. Sunday to mark the church’s anniversary.
“We are going around, giving neighbors invitations to come, and our apologies,” Davis joked.
Sing-a-longs with the church’s original pedal pump organ are planned, as are period clothing, timelines, pictures and stories about life on the prairie in 1890.
Anniversary activities on Sunday include: worship service from 10-11:15 a.m.; fellowship with refreshments, displays and exhibits from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; and an open house, with sing-a-longs and activities for children, from 1-3 p.m.
Members of the church say they want to use the celebration to thank the city which gave it life and enthusiastic support over the years.
The church’s history includes being the site of Elmhurst’s community high in 1917 and 1918 when a fire destroyed the high school.
Davis, a chaplain at hospitals and hospices, was baptized, confirmed and ordained at First Congregational. She said the church saw a boom in the 1950s when Sunday School enrollment more than doubled, going from 800 to 1,900 people.
“Elmhurst, after the war, saw its population explode,” Davis said, noting First Congregational reaped those benefits as the Presbyterian and Methodist churches had yet to be established in the community.
Davis said First Congregational is a caring and friendly community.
“If someone comes two or three times and then we don’t see them, I wonder about them. I miss them,” Davis said. “Lead people to the kingdom, that’s our mission.”
She noted the church has no dogmas. The church has concepts that are presumed in most creeds, but people are free to their own interpretation of issues, she said.
Jean Schildbach, 95, is the oldest and longest-attending member of First Congregational, having been a member of the church since 1939.
Schildbach is active in many church activities and loves the community nature.
“I love that I am able to sing in the choir,” said Schildbach, who has been part of the church’s singers for 79 years.
Schildbach said she enjoys seeing youths grow up in the church and is impressed with the composure of the church’s youngest members.
“Kids will come right up and shake your hands,” Schildbach said.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Inside the church
Address: 235 S. Kenilworth Ave., Elmhurst
Phone: 630-832-2580
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Pastor: The Rev. Phil Brice
Denomination: United Church of Christ
Website: www.elmhurstucc.org