History
After worshiping for many years in Zion Lutheran Church, Bensenville, and for 13 years in the chapel of Concordia Teachers College, at that time located in Addison, those Lutherans living in and around Addison officially founded and established a new congregation in Addison on July 10, 1906. The name of the congregation was the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul’s Congregation, and the initial membership included 45 voting members.
St. Paul was built at a cost of $30,716.00, and was modeled after St. John Lutheran Church, (Mayfair) Chicago. The church was built in the shape of a cross and seats 750 people. The altar has a statue of the Blessing Jesus as its centerpiece. There are beautiful stained glass windows in the church. Among them, are the Good Shepherd and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
1907 - A 1,500 pound bell was ordered for $570.00.
The congregation decided on the following seating arrangement in the new church: Wives on the west side, men on the east side, students upstairs, confirmands in the front on the main floor.
1908 - The congregation purchased its own cemetery on Mill Road for $600.
1921 - The congregation agreed to purchase a car with a "starter" for the pastor.
1924 - The East School building was erected and the building costs were shared with the Orphan Home Association.
1926 - Pews were purchased for the nave transepts ("wings") and children were seated there.
1927 - The congregation approved a $5,000.00 expenditure for organ, benches, and altar.
1932 - A committee was elected to consider the inclusion of more English services "to keep peace." Final decision: To have an English service the first Sunday of the month in the evenings plus an English service at 11 a.m. on the third Sunday of each month. Prior to this time, English services were only conducted once a month.
1935 - The Orphan Home Association requested more English services since so many children at the home did not know German. From that time German and English services were conducted every Sunday morning and announcements were made in both English and German.
1936 - Unusual winter weather caused the organ to stop in one of the services.
1937 - The bowling alley closed during worship services.
1939 - The pastor’s car allowance was set at $10.00 per month and a private telephone is installed in the parsonage.
The back pews on the East side were reserved for mothers with small children.
1941 - Husbands and wives began to take Communion together.
The name of the congregation was officially changed to The Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Paul.
1943 - Because the treasury was full, all workers of the congregation were given a $10.00 bonus.
St. Paul School Congregation petitions St. Paul Church to take over its assets, liabilities, etc. The congregation agrees to do this.
1944 - The congregation completes a major redecorating project and the church was rededicated on Easter Sunday. Included in the project: improved ventilation, the floors are repaired and restored, all woodwork is refinished (including the altar and pulpit), the pulpit is lowered, the stained glass windows are restored, the organ is rebuilt, and hearing aid outlets and new carpet are installed. The rebuilt organ (with the pipes now at the north end of the balcony) is dedicated on November 26.
1945 - The Sunday School was organized and meets for the first time in June.
1947 - Two acres were added to the south side of the cemetery at a cost of $800.00.
1949 - The congregation celebrated the 100th anniversary of the school.
1950 - The Parent Teachers League organized and held its first meeting.
1953 - A new school addition was built. It included four classrooms, an auditorium, a kitchen, storage rooms and office space, and was dedicated on August 30. Cost of the new school was $108,363.00.
1957 - The church renovation program was completed at an approximate cost of $80,000.00 with a rededication service on May 26. Included in the remodeling program were the addition of a new narthex (enclosed), the excavation of the church basement to accommodate various meeting rooms, the complete reworking of the electrical system of the church and new fixtures, including recessed lighting in the nave area, the redecoration of the church interior and the addition of a new communion rail. A new roof was also installed.
1959 - The bowling alleys were removed and the floor was converted into two classrooms and later into the school library and Learning Center. The Lutheran Child Welfare Association’s property across from the church was sold to the Village of Addison. Our congregation requested that the "triangle" in front of the church remain as a park.
1968 - A new parsonage at 141 Army Trail is constructed at a cost of $32,000.00 and was dedicated on November 3.
1970 - The congregation accepted property at 149 Army Trail as a memorial.
1971 - The congregation dedicated its new parish hall, gym and church offices on January 17. Also raised were an additional $9,377.00 for office and gym equipment and furnishings, $8,766.00 for other capital improvement projects, and $19,000.00 for debt reduction.
1976 - A program to protect our stained glass windows in the church began.
A contract for a new organ was signed with the Berghaus Organ Company, Bellwood, IL.
1977 - The "Memorial Gardens" were dedicated on September 11 at the site of St. Paul’s first school, on May Street, south of Army Trail Road.
1981 - The new 29 Rank Berghaus Pipe Organ was installed.
Questions / Comments about this site? email: stpaul@core.com