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Pastor Emil Zaph, then Pastor of Saint Paul's Church of Melrose
Park, asked the Mission-board of Northern Illinois District back in 1925 to
start a Mission South of the Great Western Tracks because a number of his
parishioners lived in this section, also members of Saint John s in Forest Park.
After the permission was granted to begin this Mission, Pastor John Mueller,
then pastor at Saint John's in Bellwood, Chairman of the Mission-board, together
with Pastor Zaph purchased the Basement Church of the United Lutherans for $9,000.
In the fall of 1925 the deal was completed and in the spring of 1926 the Reverend A. C. Hallman was called. The call was extended by the Mission-board and 13 communicant members. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Pastor accepted the call and was installed at Bethlehem on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, by the Pastors Zaph and Mueller.
The wooden basement floor was floating over the concrete sub-floor because there were no sewers in Broadview. For many Saturdays to follow, Mr. A. C. Heinrich, Fred Bathje, Sr., Wm Schultz, Sr., Leo Heymann, and others bailed out water by bucket so that services could be held on Sunday.
Northern Illinois District later decided to build the upper structure on the basement at 15th and Harvard. This was done at a cost of another $9,000. The School was started in the fall of 1926 and the Kindergarten in the fall of 1927. Mrs. E. Bresemen taught them in the beginning. Under the blessings of God the congregation soon grew to number 186 Communicants. By 1964 there were approximately 400.
In the year 1955 the purchase of lots was made at 17th and Harvard. The Church continued to acquire land until it had obtained over one-half block. The last purchase came in 1959. A Building Fund was started and began to build up a sum of money toward a new church. For about 15 years the Mission-board of Northern Illinois gave financial help to pay teacher salaries, but then under the blessings of our God the Church became self-supporting. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bethlehem helped support Synod in repayment for its years of kindness. At the same time Bethlehem was saving for its own new church.
The Greek Orthodox Church purchased the old church and while Bethlehem held its Worship in the Gymnasium of the Lindop School from Thanksgiving Day, 1959, until it moved into the new church on March 19, 1961. Bethlehem worshippers were told they could occupy the new edifice by July 1960, but there were many delays. The Cornerstone was laid on May 22, 1960. Pastor Marcus Kluender of Saint Paul's Church in Melrose Park preached the sermon.
The Church was dedicated Sunday, June 25, 1961.
Sources were used in the compilation of this entry include but are not limited to:
- Broadview Golden Jubilee -- 1914 to 1964, Articles by Val Koch, published by the Village of Broadview
Last Modified: 10/09/2002