Reconstruction of First United Methodist Church’s main sanctuary won’t be ready for Easter services, but the Elgin congregation has raised nearly all of the $6 million needed to replace the roof, put up a new steeple and repair interior damage done by a violent storm that struck more than a year ago.
“We need to raise at least $120,000 to complete the project, primarily due to costs not covered by insurance,” the Rev. Felicia LaBoy said. “We have seen and firmly believe that as we have tried our best to be good neighbors to our community, even in the midst of this restoration, we are confident that they will join us in completing our restoration.”
First United has been rebuilding in the year following the microburst that ripped off a section of the 100-year-old sanctuary roof in the early hours of March 15, 2025.
Hopes that repairs might be finished by Easter were dashed when they encountered delays resulting from insurance-related timing and approvals; weather impacts, particularly as it affected the roof work; and additional issues found as the construction was done, LaBoy said.
Among them were greater-than-anticipated plaster damage and structural deterioration in the steeple, which required additional work and time, the pastor said. The steeple’s structural decay predated the storm, which meant it was not eligible for insurance coverage and added $120,000 to costs, she said.
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Because other parts of the church were not damaged by the storm, First United’s outreach programs and community partnerships continued while the restoration has been ongoing.
“Since December, we’ve made significant progress on restoring the sanctuary and overall building,” LaBoy said. “Major systems work and safety improvements have been completed, including electrical and HVAC, along with inspections and approvals.”
More than a half-mile of pews have been refinished and are awaiting installation once the walls and flooring are done, she said. Plaster work in the sanctuary and stairwells is largely complete and new insulation installed.
Ceiling restoration began in mid-March, and lighting upgrades are underway, including automation of the sanctuary’s illumination system. On the exterior, steeple restoration has been completed and roof work should be done by early May, weather permitting, she said.
On March 30, LaBoy, her husband and co-chairs of the church’s governance board ventured up scaffolding to bless the steeple.
“Now, with the scaffolding down, you can clearly see the steeple from everywhere, especially how it shimmers in the sun,” she said. “We are targeting a return to the building in June, assuming no further delays.”
Remaining work includes completing ceiling refinishing; final plastering and painting; flooring and carpet installation; reinstalling lighting and radiant heating systems; reinstalling the organ, pipes and trumpets; and final inspections, cleaning and occupancy approvals.
The work is being funded in part by a grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places, along with a special honorarium gift, LaBoy said.
“This project has truly been a collaborative effort, and we are incredibly grateful for the teams helping bring this historic building back to life,” she said. “We want to especially recognize Patrick Jackowiec, assistant general manager of ServPro, and Jeremy Bates and Gary Moore of Precision Roofing and Construction, along with their teams. Their expertise and dedication have been invaluable throughout this process.”
First United is also grateful to other churches and organizations for their support in providing spaces for its services.
The congregation worshiped on Palm Sunday at the Elgin History Museum. Maundy Thursday services were held at First Presbyterian Church of Elgin and Good Friday with the African American Christian Ministers Alliance, a group of Black pastors and their congregations in the area, and their counterparts from the Aurora-area at Second Baptist in Elgin.
“This Sunday, we will have Easter services followed by brunch Sunday with First Congregational Church of Elgin,” LaBoy said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.