CHURCH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION - "Celebrating Our Past, Believing In Our Future" - We are celebrating our first hundred years as a Presbyterian church with events lasting throughout the 2008-2009 program year (September 2008 - April 2009).  First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton was accepted as the 100th congregation of the Chicago Presbytery on April 20, 1909.

As part of our Centennial Celebration we're sharing some brief nuggets of various families' favorite church memories.  Just click here for information about how to have your family's favorite moments in your history with the church added to the website for others in our church family to enjoy.

Fifty Years of Memories of
Dick and Jane (Bennorth) Mitchell

Dick:  Barbara and I and our three youngsters moved to Wheaton in the fall of 1956.  Being raised by Presbyterian parents, church “shopping” was not an option, and we joined First Pres in the spring of 1958.  The sanctuary reminded me of the church I grew up in – brick, plain interior, ordinary glass windows, typical New England-style church.  The only unusual décor was the elaborate framed “Madonna and the Child” flanked by equally elaborate Spanish Baroque columns topped by wrought iron grill.

Jane:  Bob and I moved to Wheaton in the late fifties.  We joined First Pres in 1958.  We too liked the light interior of the sanctuary.  Our early years of church life saw our three sons baptized here.  They attended Sunday School, sang in the Monks’ Choir, and were active in WF.  One of our proudest moments was listening to our oldest son give the sermon on Youth Sunday.  Meanwhile Bob and I became very active in the life of the Church.  Bob was an usher and served both as a Deacon and a Trustee.  I became a Deacon, joined the choir, and later on became an Elder.

Dick:  With the arrival of Dr. Cecil Lower in 1960, we became active in the life of the church.  Barbara found her niche as a caregiver in the school nursery while I became an usher and a pulpit associate.  The kids did the Sunday School thing, particularly Jim who was a Beadle.  During these years church activities included Supper Club, Men’s Luncheon, and fund raising for the initial Stewart Hall, out of which many friendships were formed including that between the Bennorths and the Mitchells.  Bob became my barrister.

Jane:  Many changes to the church have taken place during the past 50 years, and Bob and I were involved in these fundraising activities.  The “Madonna and Child” and Spanish columns were removed.  The reredos was installed and then re-installed in Stewart Hall.  Stewart Hall and the Children’s Chapel were built, and the manse was taken down.  The Decade 8 fund raiser was for a new organ, an expanded chancel area, and moving the choir from the balcony to the altar area.  The recent addition was the building of the Ministry Center, the Rotunda, more Sunday School rooms, and, finally, the “church without a parking lot” finally had one!  On the social side, one of the things Bob and I enjoyed was the monthly Supper Club.  This was the time and place where we met most of the people we knew in church.

Dick:  My daughters were married at First Pres during these years.  However, the 1970’s became the toughest days of my life.  Within a period of 6 years, I lost a wife, a son, a brother, and a dear lifelong friend.  Memorial services for both Barbara and Jim were held at First Pres.  With the support of our church family and particularly the wise counsel and healing words of Dr. Cecil Lower, I was able to cope.  I sincerely believe that God was on my side in the form of Dr. Lower.  I was saddened by his retirement in 1976, and I became somewhat of a Christmas/Easter-only church attendee.  I retired in the mid-1980’s and relocated to California, transferring my membership to LaJolla Pres.

Jane: As you can tell, Bob and I were active in church and enjoyed everything about our life in Wheaton.  However, not everything went well.  In 1986, Bob underwent open-heart surgery and did not survive.  A Memorial Service was held at First Pres.  I continued to be active in church activities and particularly appreciated the support of the choir.

Dick and Jane:  Upon the encouragement of his daughters, Dick moved back to Wheaton in 1998 and rejoined First Pres. We renewed our acquaintance, dated, and were married by Dr. Brouwer in June 2000. Our honeymoon was a trip to Italy with the church choir.  We had a small wedding, and the only flaw was that Jane wanted our service in the Chapel; but it was unavailable due to storage of “stuff” while the Ministry Center was being built.  A happy ending to 50-plus years of church affiliation.  We look forward to many more years of a shared life centered around our church home.

Centennial Moments from
Harold (Critt) and Allison (Sandy) Crittenden

Critt:

Whatever it takes . . .

It means accepting change.  In 1950 the church purchased the Dunbar Estate, and the Sunday School was in the Parish House.  For a while members had to bus their kids from the little church downtown.  Then when membership grew, and we again needed room for fellowship and Sunday School, in 1964 Stewart Hall was completed.  By 1998 there were plans for its expansion, and by 2001 we had that and the Ministry Center and Rotunda.  This meant tearing down the Manse, and some were quite upset over that; but we are experts at capital campaigns.

We are blessed to have creative people to lead the many missions and programs we are now equipped to provide. Our youth programs are among the best.

San and I have been able to take advantage of the ongoing opportunities for personal renewal - trips to the Holy Land and Scotland.  There was the two-year Bethel Study and enlightenment of Sacred Arts; but, what is the very best for us is when the now adults remind us they were in our Sunday School or Confirmation Class.  There were five that caught the spirit and became ministers, and they keep coming.  I believe there are three in preparation at this time - we are proud of them.

The church has changed.  In 1957 children did not attend worship.  The choir was in the balcony.  You didn't come to church without a tie and suitcoat.  We change with God's direction and grace and whatever it takes to do God's work. . . .

Sandy:

There is a lot to cover in 51 years as members of this church - so I won't try.  I'm going to tell you about an incident that happened sometime around 1970 when Dr. Cecil Lower was Pastor.  He called a meeting to discuss the church's youth program.  I went - not knowing what was really needed was church school teachers for the Junior Highs' (Middle Schoolers).  I was asked.  I declined and gave the usual reasons - never taught before - didn't know enough about the Bible - no curriculum available for that age group (which was true).

We left the meeting with nothing settled.  The next morning there was a loud knocking at my door, and I let in the lady who would not only change my mind about teaching but perhaps set me in a new direction on my faith journey.  Bear in mind that in remembering over the years I might tend to dramatize.

Appearing very rushed and even a little annoyed, she explained she was leaving the next day for California and retirement.  Dr. Lower had asked her to come and straighten me out on this teaching business.  She got right to the point, pointing her cane at me and demanding, "Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?"

"Yes."

"Where is he?"

I mumbled someting like "in my heart and all around me," and she was off, promising to be in touch.  In a week or so I received a letter from her.  It said, "First of all you don't teach - you help the young people to realize what they already know."  She included subjects, questions, and quotations to get me started.

"Fantastic!” was Critt's reaction - so I recruited him to help with the class!