Celebrating 100 Years of Community and Faith
For one hundred years, we have gathered as a community of faith and fellowship, serving the whole Edgebrook Community, surrounding neighborhoods, and suburbs. Through our ministries, we strive to be a true community church,
both in the community and for the community.
Our History
(Note: Much of the following text is from our 50th Anniversary book written in 1974 by a committee consisting of Ms. Christine Berg, Mr. Wm. Silet and Mrs. Theodore Maheras.)
One hundred years ago, Maurice Dean was trimming the hedge on his front walk when a stranger approached and spoke to him. “This is a nice community. Do you have a church here?” “No” was the answer he received, but Mr. Dean agreed that one was needed. The stranger’s name was Brutus McGee. He had studied in a theological seminary but had never gained a pulpit. Selling insurance had given him financial security, but he still wanted to preach, and he was willing to preach gratis.
The two agreed that a church was needed to represent the spiritual community. They went to the homes of William A. and Lydia Williams and the Frank Deans and it was the next Sunday that the first service of the Edgebrook Community Church was held in Mrs. Freida Danley’s home on Lundy Avenue. Services were held in homes and eventually moved to the home of Otto Wittbold on Louise Avenue with twenty members. The church was incorporated on October 8, 1924.
Having no room to grow, Burt Dean secured the use of the Little Red Brick School House on Prescott and Central. Two services were held there, even though the seats were too small for adults to sit properly. Before the second service, Otto Wittbold said that he had a little foreman’s cottage on the nursery ground and that it could be used if they fixed it up. The community enthusiastically pitched in to clean up, paint, plumb and plaster the cottage. 44 people attended the opening service and more than one hundred people were fed at the first church bazaar in 1925. Vanus Fogelberg, the first Sunday School Superintendent wrote a hymn and Burt Dean wrote the lyrics. Entitled “Truth,” its first rendition was in the little church by a famous singer, William Rice.
Otto Wittbold gave a plot of land to the church and the church bought the lot next to it. This was the land on which the first building was built. Mrs. Maurice Dean gave the treasurer the first donation of $1000 to the Building Fund. On September 11, 1927, the cornerstone of the Edgebrook Community Church was laid. The basement was completed in January 1928 and was the church’s home for more than twenty years due to the Great Depression. However, during the Depression, it was nearly lost because the bank foreclosed on the mortgage and the property was offered for sale. But a stipulation in the deeds, due to the wisdom of the Trustees, prevented the sale. It specified that this property could only be used for church purposes. The bank had to come back and renew the loan.
Malcolm King Burton was the first “called” pastor. He studied at the Chicago Theological Seminary and was known as a great preacher. During the early years, members Mr. and Mrs. J. Ashenhurst began publishing “The Edgebrook Events,” issued every two weeks. This served as the Edgebrook neighborhood’s first newspaper. In 1929, Dr. Ferris F. Laune secured a Reed Organ and presented it to the church. In 1938, the church secured a Boston Cole Tucker Organ from Wheaton College and with the assistance of James Ashenhurst and Franklin Catlin, Jr., worked all summer to put it in condition.
On June 29, 1940, the Rev. Mr. David E. Todd began his ministry, and one hundred and three members were received during his first year. In 1945, application was made to affiliate with the Congregational Christian Churches of the United States. The congregation was received in April 1946. This new bond assisted in a continuity of ministry and provided substantial funds as grants and loans to build the church. On May 18, 1947, the cornerstone of the second unit in the church building was laid by Rev. David Todd and various members. On April 11, 1948, amid great ceremonies, the church building was dedicated.
The church grew until there wasn’t space. In thirteen years, Rev. Todd welcomed 416 members into fellowship. Rev. Mr. Koch, Associate Minister to youth, filled every nook and space with church school classes. The church had to expand!
George Siudy began his ministry on May 1, 1954, and on May 27, 1956, instituted the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church and Youth Center building. The membership increased to 726 members and the Sunday School had 290 students. Youth activities included a Church School, five Girl Scout and Brownie Troops, a Boy Scout Troop, Cub Scout Troop, an Explorer Troup as well as a Junior Pilgrim Fellowship, Senior Pilgrim Fellowship and large Confirmation Classes. In 1957, Edgebrook Community Church joined the United Church of Christ following the union of the Congregational Christian Church with the Evangelical and Reformed Church.
It was estimated that the new church building cost $480,000 to build. In 1969, they burned the last mortgage as a highlight of the 45th anniversary. The dedication ceremonies for the new church building took place from September 29th to October 6th.
