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The First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton has a varied and interesting
history. It was as the First Congregational Church of Wheaton that
First Church was organized in the summer of 1878. The church was a
building only 50 feet square. The church suffered over a difference of
opinion on matters of personal conscience, and by 1909 part of the
membership left. The surviving congregation then made the decision to
change the denomination to Presbyterian. By October 1909 the roll of
charter members of the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton totaled
126.
During the years from 1938 to 1950 the church membership grew to 475.
At the annual meeting in 1950 a committee was appointed to survey
needs and to explore ways of meeting them. Because of needed expansion
the church investigated the Dunbar property northwest of Wheaton. The
committee found the house adequate; and in September 1950 the church
school moved into its new home, the Parish House. In addition to
Sunday School, the Parish House served the church in many ways: a
meeting hall for youth organizations, spiritual life groups,
committees, study groups, dinners, wedding receptions, and other
activities of a growing active congregation. With the inconvenience of
being situated almost a mile from the church, the congregation was
soon looking forward to locating the entire church complex on the
property. At this time membership totaled 780.
In 1951 the Board of Deacons was introduced; and a building committee
was appointed to draw up plans for the construction of a sanctuary,
educational building, and manse on the new property.
Ground breaking for the sanctuary took place on Sunday, November 22,
1953; the cornerstone for the sanctuary was laid on Sunday, May 9,
1954; and the first service was held on November 21, 1954. In December
1953 the church began holding two morning worship services
The First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton with its associated buildings
now occupies a full city block.
The Cecil W. Lower Parish House was built as a private residence in
1928. It is named in honor of the senior pastor who served this church
from 1961 to 1977.
Stewart Hall was named in honor of Dr. Robert Bowman Stewart, who
served this church as senior pastor from 1938 to 1960.
Our most recent church expansion, done in 1999 and
2000, added the Ministry Center, Son-Light Rotunda,
classroom and meetings space, increased the size of
Stewart Hall, and added a parking lot as well as our
Celebration Garden.
The world was able to view the details of this construction,
with updates and photos added regularly to the church
website in a section called Construction
News, which is now a part of our church history.
This expansion of our facility has enabled our church to greatly
expand our Logos program
for children and provide musical entertainment such as the production
of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor
Dreamcoat, which was presented by members of First Presbyterian
Church of Wheaton on Saturday, July 21, and Sunday, July 22, 2001,
in the Church Ministry Center and raised $5600 for two of our
church mission partners. It has also made it possible to increase
our worship experience with more Sunday School and adult education
opportunities including special presentations such as the musical
No Ordinary Night on
December 16, 2001, by Genesis (6 - 8 graders). This was the first
Ministry Center event held after our new stage curtains were installed.
The expanded space in Stewart Hall has also been used for intergenerational
activities and events, such as the Maundy Thursday Seder
Meal on April 12, 2001.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
John Robert Houliston (1873-1977) wrote "A
Brief History of First Presbyterian Church" in the 1940's,
describing how our church had evolved from the settlement of the
DuPage County area in the 1830's to the early days of the ministry of
Dr. Robert Bowman Stewart, including information about some of the
early ministers and members, the original building at the corner of
Hale and Seminary Streets in Wheaton, and the expansion projects
there. This history was updated in 1954 following the dedication of
the cornerstone of the sanctuary at the church's present location, and
is now available online. |
