First Mennonite Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

First Mennonite Church, Chicago, Illinois (Mennonite Church USA) had its beginning in a surge of city mission interest in the General Conference Mennonite Church between 1902 and 1920, and was the second of about eight city missions established. It began in 1914 as a rescue mission in the commercial center of Englewood (63d St. near Halsted St.). Its leaders turned to work with people (primarily children) of more stability in the new community of West Englewood in 1915, and soon two store-front chapels (Ashland Ave. near 72d St.) became inadequate. A financial campaign among the churches of the Eastern, Middle, Western, and Northern districts between 1916 and 1918, conducted personally by the founder of the work, W. W. Miller, resulted in the construction of a church at 73rd and Lafflin, off the main avenue, in 1918, and the subsequent organization of a congregation. Since Miller's initial pastorate of eight years and A. H. Leaman's of nine years, the congregation had six other pastors by 1953. Leland Harder became pastor in June 1952 and served until 1957.

Membership in 1953 was 70. In 2005 the membership was 35.

Bibliography

Harder, Leland. Seventy-Third and Lafflin. Chicago, 1952.

Additional Information

Address: 1477 W 73rd Street, Chicago, IL 60636-4036

Phone: 773-783-8280

Author(s)	Leland D Harder
Date Published	1953

Cite This Article

MLA style

Harder, Leland D. "First Mennonite Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Chicago,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=104129.

APA style

Harder, Leland D. (1953). First Mennonite Church (Chicago, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Chicago,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=104129.

---

©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.