| 1966 |
Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church is officially formed on October 11 when the Presbytery of Chicago approves the merger of the Christ and Fullerton
Presbyterian Churches. Rev. Eldon Lindberg, pastor of the Fullerton Presbyterian
Church, continues as pastor at Lincoln Park. The Fullerton Church building
becomes the new home of the Lincoln Park congregation. |
| 1968 |
Beginning of period of strong social activism. Involvement in issues concerning:
civil rights, Vietnam War, draft counseling, hunger, environment, farm workers,
gay/lesbian rights, desegregation, public education. Demonstrators at the
Democratic National Convention are provided shelter. |
| 1969 |
The Chicago Police are illegally spying on activities of the congregation
and church building tenants. |
| 1970 |
Emphasis on reconciliation in congregation and community. Low-income community
housing projects are funded. |
| 1971 |
Innovative and participative worship style developed. The heating system
is converted from coal to gas. |
| 1972 |
Alternate Space Committee studies possibility of relocating congregation
and eventually recommends staying in the present building. Strong involvement
in Olivet-DePaul tutoring program. |
| 1973 |
Renovation Fund Campaign raises $53,000 for building repairs and improvements. |
| 1976 |
Congregation helps start the ecumenically-based Night Ministry organization. |
| 1977 |
A period of strong focus on young adult ministry. Church building serves
as drop-off station for handguns. |
| 1979 |
Congregation has highest per capita pledge in the Chicago Presbytery to
the denomination's Major Mission Fund. |
| 1980 |
Resettlement of Vietnamese refugees. Congregation adopts position paper
on ordination in the local church. Help form Lincoln Park Seniors. |
| 1981 |
Session declares Lincoln Park Presbyterian a More Light Church with full
membership and participation open to all Christians. |
| 1982 |
Lincoln Park Calendar/Guidebook and Mental Health Resource Book are published
as a form of mission outreach to the community. |
| 1983 |
Capital Campaign raises $85,000 for major building repairs. |
| 1984 |
Successful church judicial action to install to the Session an openly gay
elder who had been re-elected by the congregation ensures full membership
rights for lesbian and gay members. Commitment to Peacemaking statement
adopted. |
| 1985 |
Help start Lincoln Park Community Shelter for the Homeless with other area churches; church basement is used as one of the Shelter sites during the winter. The Endowment Fund and Dorothy Allen Organ Fund are established. Representatives attend the first More Light Churches Conference. |
| 1986 |
Exterior of building cleaned and Johnson & Son tracker organ restored.
Congregation joins the Northside Sanctuary Consortium. |
| 1987 |
Another period of strong involvement in young adult ministry.
100th Anniversary of Laying of Cornerstone of present church building. |
| 1988 |
Chicago House volunteer program begins. Building Centennial celebrated. |
| 1989 |
Associate pastor position created and filled by Ann O. Johnson, the first
woman to be called to a pastoral position. |
| 1990 |
Inclusive Language and Affirmation of Ministry statements adopted. |
| 1991 |
Sanctuary open midweek evenings for prayer during Persian Gulf War. Session
approves Covenantal Ceremonies for same gender couples.
25th Anniversary celebrated in October. |
| 1992 |
Capital Campaign receives $124,000 in initial pledges and grants to fund
building repairs and improvements. Congregation hosts the More Light Churches
Conference at which the More Light Churches Network is organized. |
| 1993 |
150th Anniversary of Christ Church Sabbath Schools celebrated.
|
| 1994 |
Church cookbook debuts. The Session votes to place a rainbow flag on outside
signboard as a sign of welcome and affirmation. |
| 1995 |
Building accessibility project begins. Church helps organize the Northside
Presbyterian Parish, a consortium of Presbyterian churches which pledge
to undertake some joint ministry and mission projects. The Capital Campaign
extension raises another $36,000 for building improvements, including the
second phase of the accessibility project. |
| 1996 |
Development of internet homepage. First phase of the accessibility
project, the new rear entrance with lift, is completed. |
| 1997 |
Session adopts a Covenant of Dissent against the 1996/97 Amendment B and 75 individual members and friends also sign the Covenant. The second phase of the accessibility project is completed with a ramp connecting the two main levels of the building. A Strategic Working Group is created to study the congregation. |
| 1998 |
The Strategic Working Group conducts an extensive survey of congregational life and ministry. |
| 1999 |
The Strategic Working Group releases its report which contained recommendations on the church building, worship and program, finances and stewardship, comunity life and member care, and mission and outreach. The Session reorganizes its committee structure into "ministry teams" and begins an 18-month "visioning" process to formulate a new statement of faith. An architect is hired and works with a Building Needs Working Group to assess the state of the church building. |
| 2000 |
The Building Condition Assessment report is released and recommends repairs and restoration to church building totaling approximately $2 million. The Session adopts new Vision Statement. A grant is received from the denomination to hire a Director of Redevelopment for one year to assist in presenting ideas and programming that will lead to church growth. |
| 2001 |
The Session votes to begin a capital campaign for building restoration within 18 months and affirms continued and possibly expanded partnership with the Lincoln Park Community Shelter for the Homeless. |
| 1900 |
Christ Church (Presbyterian) organized on February 8 with 183 members. Rev.
David Creighton is called as first pastor. Fourth Presbyterian Church continues
financial support. |
| 1912 |
Election of officers postponed due to internal difficulties. |
| 1914 |
Fourth Presbyterian Church donates its Johnson & Son tracker organ.
Building is remodeled and sanctuary redesigned. |
| 1922 |
Congregation becomes self-supporting. Senior basketball team wins league
championship. |
| 1943 |
100th Anniversary of founding of the first Sabbath School. |
| 1946 |
Membership reaches all-time high of 505. |
| 1950 |
50th Anniversary of church organization celebrated. |
| 1958 |
Election of first women elders: Charlotte Engquist and Evelyn Kirchner. |
| 1960 |
Period of increased ecumenical involvement with neighborhood churches. |
| 1966 |
Congregation votes on June 26 to merge with the Fullerton Presbyterian Church
to form Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church. The sale of the Christ Church
property provides $100,000 to help launch the newly merged congregation.
|
| 1864 |
Fullerton Avenue Presbyterian Church organized with 22 members as an "Old
School" congregation by McCormick Seminary professor Dr. Willis Lord.
A simple frame building is erected at 530 W. Fullerton. |
| 1870 |
First building enlarged. |
| 1871 |
Great Chicago Fire stops several blocks from church building, but has devastating
effect on many members. |
| 1872 |
Congregation calls first pastor: Rev. William Young. Women's Missionary
Society formed. |
| 1879 |
Ladies Aid Society formed and gives valuable financial and program assistance
for many years. |
| 1887 |
Cornerstone laid for second building at 600 W. Fullerton on August 31 and
original property sold to Church of Our Saviour. |
| 1888 |
Johnson & Son tracker organ purchased for $3,000. New building completed
at cost of $60,000 and dedicated on April 22. |
| 1893 |
Depression causes financial hardship. |
| 1898 |
Sanctuary enlarged westward at a cost of $10,000. |
| 1909 |
Fullerton Church known as "Mother of Churches" for its role in
helping form the Belden Avenue, Covenant, Endeavor and Lake View Churches. |
| 1913 |
Church reaches largest membership: 534 with 890 in Sunday School. |
| 1914 |
50th Anniversary celebrated. Strong fundraising leads to burning of mortgage. |
| 1924 |
Endowment Fund established. |
| 1927 |
Internal strife leads to resignation of pastor and loss of many prominent
members. |
| 1929 |
Congregation hit hard by Great Depression and forced to remortgage building. |
| 1932 |
Merger with Church of the Covenant (Presbyterian) to form the Fullerton-Covenant
Presbyterian Church. |
| 1843 |
Young Men's Mission Sabbath School organized on October 3 by three men from Second Presbyterian Church. One hundred fifty students from the rural north side are enrolled in a small building on Kinzie Street. This was the first Mission Sabbath School in Chicago as well as the third Presbyterian enterprise in the city. |
| 1844 |
The School moves to Bethel Church and becomes known as the Bethel Mission
Sabbath School. |
| 1857 |
The school moves to a new building and changes its name to the Erie Street
Mission Sabbath School. |
| 1866 |
Further north, students of McCormick Seminary organize the Orchard Street
Mission for 137 pupils in a dilapidated beer hall. By year end, the North
Presbyterian Church is supporting this Mission. |
| 1868 |
The Orchard Street Mission moves to new, more spacious quarters on Howe
Street, near Armitage, and is renamed the Howe Street Mission. |
| 1871 |
Back south, the Erie Street Mission Sabbath School is now being supported
by Fourth Presbyterian Church. In October, the School building is destroyed
by the Great Chicago Fire. The Sunday after the Fire, services are held
at the ruins of the building; the School soon relocates to temporary quarters.
At the same time, the Howe Street Mission just escapes the western edge
of the Fire. |
| 1872 |
The Erie Street School consolidates with the Howe Street Mission at the
Howe Street location, with the continued support of Fourth Presbyterian
Church. The name becomes the Howe Street Mission Sabbath School. However,
attendance soon exceeds the capacity of the building. Fourth Church resolves
to erect a new, spacious building. |
| 1887 |
Christ Chapel built at Armitage and Orchard at a cost of $45,000. The Sabbath
School marches in procession to its new home. Name of school changes to
Christ Chapel Sabbath School. |
| 1893 |
50th Anniversary of the founding of the first Sabbath School is celebrated.
There are now 1,400 students in the Christ Chapel Sabbath School. |
| 1897 |
Plans are made to convert Christ Chapel into a full-fledged Presbyterian
Church. |
