Edgewater Presbyterian Church
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Edgewater Presbyterian Church is a Christian church congregation of the Edgewater neighborhood community in far north Chicago, Illinois in the United States. Founded in 1896, it once served a large Scottish and Welsh immigrant community. Located in the Bryn Mawr Historic District, Edgewater Presbyterian Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA, the Synod of Lincoln Trails and its Chicago Presbytery. It follows the reformed tradition of Calvinism.
A prominent architectural fixture in the Bryn Mawr Historic District, Edgewater Presbyterian Church calls The New Community House its home. Planned in 1926, it stands on the corner of Bryn Mawr and Kenmore Avenues and was built in the French Romanesque style with fire-proof reinforced concrete and Bedford stone. The facade of The New Community House features carvings by American sculptor Emil Zettler.
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[edit] Governance
Presbyterians believe that ministry is not exclusive to a special priesthood; all worshipers are ministers. While the pastor is a professionally educated spiritual leader, he or she does not have absolute authority in the affairs of Edgewater Presbyterian Church but rather works with a body called the Session. Presbyterianism is a representative democracy where the congregation elects from its body Elders who represent their fellow church members in the Session, which works with the pastor and associate pastor in the administration and governance of all aspects in the life of Edgewater Presbyterian Church. Originating from scripture, the office of Elder refers to a person elected from the congregation to lead and advise the church. They are ordained for life but may be installed to no more than two consecutive three-year terms.
Deacons are elected from the congregation to minister to the sick and those with other special needs in the Edgewater neighborhood community. Deacons are ordained for life and are installed to serve three-year terms. Trustees are elected from the congregation to manage Edgewater Presbyterian Church's finances and estate. Unlike the Elders and deacons, trustees are not ordained or installed. They are elected to three-year terms.
[edit] History
J. MacMeans and his wife hosted a gathering of Edgewater residents at their 2975 Kenmore Avenue home on April 17, 1896. They concluded that Edgewater was in need of a church for its growing Presbyterian community. Weeks later on May 4, a larger more formal gathering was convened consisting of representatives from the Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian and Congregational denominations. After much discussion, the assembly voted for the creation of a local church.
On June 9, the members formally organized the Edgewater Presbyterian Church with forty-three charter members. Later that month on June 25, they selected from their assembly their first Elders and deacons who were accordingly ordained and installed. The by-laws were officially adopted and the charter members invited Rev. R.R. Stevens to become its first pastor. On October 29, he was ordained and installed and remained until September 28, 1898. Under Stevens, Edgewater Presbyterian Church leased property on Granville and Greenview Avenues where on October 3, 1897 a $4,444 church building was dedicated.
Rev. Louis Perkins Cain was installed as pastor on October 24, 1899. It was under his pastoral service that the congregation burgeoned into a community of over seven hundred members. Too small for the church building on Granville and Greenview Avenues, Cain and the congregation were forced to plan for a new church building. The members chose a site for its second church building to be erected on the northwest corner of Ardmore and Kenmore Avenues. Philanthropist Nancy Fowler McCormick persuaded the congregation to choose a site on the southwest corner of Bryn Mawr and Kenmore Avenues instead.
After a second church building was erected, Cain resigned from office in 1918 and interim ministers administered pastoral duties until a permanent successor could be found. The congregation continued to grow and a committee was established on March 30, 1921 "to consider the problem of our building needs, and to report to the congregation." The need for a new church building influenced the congregation's choice of Rev. Asa J. Ferry of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to become the new pastor. Ferry had experience leading the fledgeling Bethany Temple from a mere mission to a congregation of 1700 members. He oversaw the purchase of property and construction of several church buildings in Philadelphia worth collectively over $250,000. Ferry was installed on October 31, 1921.
The committee finally reported to the congregation on January 4, 1922 recommending that instead of enlarging the church building, its should purchase two lots across the street and move there. Lots on the northwest corner of Bryn Mawr Avenue and Sheridan Road and on the northeast corner of Bryn Mawr and Kenmore Avenues were purchased and plans for what would become known today as The New Community House were finalized on January 25, 1926. The completed building with its furnishings cost approximately $450,000.
[edit] Pastors
The Pastor of Edgewater Presbyterian Church is an ordained Minister of the Word and Sacrament and a member of the Presbytery of Chicago. Listed below are the names of the pastors with their terms of service. Years without a pastor were served by interim pastors.
- Rev. R.R. Stevens (1896-1898)
- Rev. Louis Perkins Cain, D.D. (1899-1918)
- Rev. Asa J. Ferry, D.D. (1921-1934)
- Rev. William Woodfin, D.D. (1934-1938)
- Rev. Adolph Bohn, D.D. (1938-1966)
- Rev. Richard Dunn (1967-1968)
- Rev. Robert C. Linthicum, D.Min. (1969-1975)
- Rev. Leland B. Issleib (1977-1991)
- Rev. Gordon Neil Butcher (1994-2001)
- Rev. Barbara H. Cathey (2004-Present)
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Edgewater Presbyterian Church is located at 1020 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60660. Phone: 773-561-4748. Fax: 773-561-4747.
