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Concordia Lutheran Church
Concordia Lutheran Church was organized as the result of a layman canvass in the Berkeley-Hillside area by students of Concordia Teachers College of River Forest, under the direction of the Lutheran Mission Board. As a result of the canvass, in October of 1952 a Lutheran Sunday School was started in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Stendell with nine children attending the first session. The endeavor became known as the Berkeley-Hillside Lutheran Sunday School, Missouri Synod, with Arnold Brieschke as the Superintendent and Mrs. Brieschke and Judy Stendell the teachers. In order to accommodate the growth, the members obtained the use of the American Legion Hall in 1953.
Afternoon church services were held during June and July in the Berkeley Village Hall with Dr. E. H. Pitteiko of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hillside officiating. The congregation became known as the Berkeley-Hillside Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
Morning services were then started in August, 1953 with Vicar Victor Streufert, a faculty member of Concordia College, acting as pastor. The first officers of the church were Arnold E. Brieschke, Arthur Licht and Glen Thoreson. A guild was formed in November of 1953 and Mrs. Larson, Mrs Glen Thoreson and Mrs. William Eggers active as the guild officers.
On Palm Sunday, April 1, 1955 the first confirmation class was conducted. Those being confirmed included Robert Thoreson, Robert Vassolo Wynn Smith, Terry Holton, Jerry Wagner, Greg Millins, Judith Edmonds and Corolee Chnstensen. The new church’s construction was found appropriate by the Northern Illinois District and the search began for a building. This active congregation chose the site at 5159 Madison Street, Hillside. Groundbreaking took Place on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1956. The church then became known as Concordia Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
Several students from Concordia College conducted services at the church, each serving a year as vicar, then returning to college to complete their studies. By 1980 Concordia Lutheran Church had a membership of 137 families.
The primary source of this information is:
"Progress, Pride, Growth, 1905 - 1980, 75th Anniversary --Village of Hillside", C.1981 published by Village of Hillside, Hillside, IL, by Ruth Lommatzsch and Ann Hoogstra
Last Modified: 06/10/2002