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Westchester Community Church - United Church of Christ
1840 Westchester Boulevard
Westchester, Illinois 60154

Westchester Community Church – The First Twenty-five Years

1948

Public transportation on Sundays to nearby villages was non-existent or inadequate and there were no liberal churches in Westchester. In addition to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, there were four churches in Westchester; namely, the Grace Lutheran, the Divine Infant Catholic, the St. Dunstans Episcopal, and the Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian. The last three, prior to building, had held their services in either the Britten or the Nixon public schools.

1949

Five Westchester families were attending the First Congregational Church of LaGrange. The President of the Women's Association persuaded Mrs. Charles Field to organize a Westchester Auxiliary of their Association. In addition to the other four families, the Lawrence Jones, the Walter McDowells, the Harry Summers and the Walter Zierks, Mrs. Field interested numerous friends who were attending churches in other towns. The following 22 women attended the initial meeting in the Field residence on February 24, 1949:

Mrs. Ralph G. Baker

Mrs. Lee Crouch

Mrs. Edward Eckhardt

Mrs. Charles N. (Jo) Field

Mrs. Theodore Groenke

Mrs. Oscar Gustin

Mrs. Ernest Heitsch

Mrs. Orelo C. Kohl

Mrs. T. A. Lundgren

Mrs. Walter McDowell

Mrs. Fred Majors

Mrs. R. N. (Stella) Nelson

Mrs. R. C. Parsons

Mrs. David Rucker

Mrs. Walter Siegert

Mrs. Albert Usas

Mrs. Lawrence Warder

Mrs. Charles Warren

Mrs. William Weissenborn

Mrs. Thomas Wetland

Mrs. Donald Wetzel

Mrs. Walter Zierk

In addition, the following interested women could not attend this initial meeting:

Mrs. William Blecha

Mrs. Lawrence Jones

Mrs. Harry Summers

The group organized and selected as Officers:

Chairman - Mrs. Charles N. Field

Vice Chairman - Mrs. William Blecha

Treasurer - Mrs. Theodore Groenke

Secretary - Mrs. Walter McDowell

Dr. Crosby attended this meeting with Officers of the Women's Association of his church. During the course of the evening, several of the Westchester women expressed interest in the formation of a community church in Westchester. By May of 1949 membership of this group increased to 70 women. Continued interest resulted in a meeting of the husbands at the Eckhardt residence at which it was decided to distribute a questionnaire in the Village to determine the number of families interested in forming a new church. The returns from the questionnaire showed a definite interest in the formation of a community church in the Village. The returns were reported at a family picnic of the Westchester Auxiliary held in Brezina Woods in August 1949. The adults present decided to proceed and selected the following Organization Committee:

Chairman Charles N. Field - Congregational

Paul S. Bickenbach - Methodist

Lee Crouch - Methodist

Edward J. Eckhardt - Congregational

Ernest A. Heitsch - Presbyterian

Edward J. Lesak - E & R Church

William F. Sommer - Lutheran

J. L. Whysong - Methodist

This committee studied the constitutions of churches of many denominations, but decided to incorporate a considerable number of provisions from the constitution of The Colonial Church of Prairie Village Kansas. As a result of the two Organization Meetings held on October 3^rd and 28^th of 1949, the Constitution for The Westchester Community Church was adopted. Officers and Board members were elected and it was voted to petition the Chicago Association of Congregational Christian Churches for membership. The Constitution was adopted on October 3, 1949, by the following residents:

Mrs. B. F. Bachus

Mr. & Mrs. R. G. Baker

Mr. & Mrs. P. Bickenbach

Mr. & Mrs. C. H. Brucker

Mr. & Mrs. C. Burdick

Mr. E. J. Busch

Mrs. D. E. Crook

Mr. & Mrs. L. Crouch

Mr. & Mrs. E. J. Eckhardt

Mr. & Mrs. C. N. Field

Mr. & Mrs. W. G. Fuetterer

Mr. & Mrs. G. E. Gearhart

Mrs. Oscar Gustin

Mrs. P. T. Haddick

Mrs. C. T. Hauenstein

Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Heimann

Mr. & Mrs. E. A. Heitsch

Mrs. Hupp

Mrs. George Hutt

Mrs. L. H. Jones

Mr. & Mrs. O. C. Kohl

Mr. & Mrs. H. Kristoffersen

Mrs. Fred Kure

Mrs. E. J. Lesak

Mr. Stanley McFarlane

Mr. & Mrs. Carl Nelson

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Ray

Mr. W. F. Scarborough

Mrs. Edwin Sergey

Mr. & Mrs. W. F. Sommer

Mrs. Wendell Stevenson

Mrs. Harry Summers

Mrs. Charles Warren

Mr. & Mrs. W. J. Weissenborn

Mrs. F. R. Whistler

Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Whysong

Mr. J. H. Zimmermann

The original Officers and Board members that were elected consisted of:

Treasurer - Mr. Charles Ray

Clerk - Mrs. Edwin Sergey

Mr. C. N. Field - Chairman

Mr. P. S. Bickenbach

Mr. E. J. Eckhardt

Mr. E. A. Heitsch

Mr. E. J. Lesak

Mr. J. L. Whysong

Board of Religious Education

Mrs. W. G. Fuetterer - Chairman

Mrs. C. N. (Jo) Field

Mr. E. A. Heitsch

Mrs. L. H. Jones

Mrs. W. F. Sommer

Mrs. Charles Warren

Nominating Committee (For this election)

Mr. S. McFarlane - Chairman

Mrs. C. Burdick

Mr. W. Fuetterer

Mrs. Fred Kure

Mr. S. McFarlane - Chairman

Mr. B. F. Bachus

Mr. Lee Crouch

Mr. 0. C. Kohl

Mr. D. G. Rucker

Mr. W. F. Sommer

Mrs. R. G. Baker

Mrs. C. H. Brucker

Mrs. E. A. Heitsch

Mrs. L. H. Jones

Mrs. R. N. (Stella) Nelson

Mrs. E. M. Sammonds

Mr. C. S. Burdick

Mrs. C. T. Hauenstein

Mr. E. J. Busch

Mr. W. G. Fuetterer

Mr. R. N. Nelson

The date was set for the first Service on November 13, 1949. Many detail still to be worked out. The Church Officers appreciated the encouragement and advice given by Dr. Crosby, and also his aid in securing as our initial Interim Minster, Dr. Arthur Cushmand McGiffert Jr., President of the Chicago Theological Seminary.

The Church had been organized and a service had been held, but technically there were no members.

Dr. Crosby agreed to hold the first Orientation Meeting at the Field residence on the evening of December 12, 1949, which resulted in 71 being given "The right hand of fellowship" by Dr. McGiffert on the following Sunday.

December 25, 1949, fell on a Sunday. In celebrating the birth of Jesus, the infant church was celebrating its own birth. Dr. McGiffert kindled the vision of building a House of Worship and of being of service to the community. The sacrament of baptism was given to sixteen children. The congregation sang from the new hymnals and the choir appeared for the first time in robes that had been donated.

1950

Three additional Orientation Meetings were held resulting in a total of 163 Charter Members from 80 families being received by January 29, 1950.

Meanwhile, the individual plans of the Boards were coordinated through joint Board meetings as there was no resident Minister or assigned denominational advisor. The Trustees concluded that:

The future site for the church should be within three blocks of the Canterbury "L" station.

117 new hymnals were to be purchased by members.

The First Every Member Canvas should be held on Sunday, January 8, 1950.

Denominational assistance should be sought in seeking a resident Minister and in obtaining financial aid toward his salary.

Meanwhile, the Board of Religious Education was busy obtaining teaching materials and teachers to handle the unexpected response to the Sunday School. The Deacons and the Music Committee were busy planning services for the first baptisms, the first reception of new members and for the first Advent Season.

The Trustee meeting of February 15, 1950, reported 104 pledges totaling $6,536 against a goal of $5,300 and a budget of $9,250 which included $2,725 aid from the Chicago City Missionary Society. The minutes recorded that a prospective Minister, Reverend Oscar Bollman of Des Moines, would preach on March 5, 1950. At this meeting, the Trustees approved a letter of explanation to the Comity Commission of The Church Federation of Chicago. The Comity had questioned the organization of a church in an area they had assigned to the Presbyterian Church for development. The Church’s reply emphasized that the church had been organized by residents from about 80 families having numerous denominational backgrounds and that neither the Presbyterian Church nor any other denomination had fostered the idea to form The Westchester Community Church.

Fellowship in the Church primarily centered around the Women's Society, who had given birth to the idea of forming a Community Church. They held Sunday evening programs to attract couples and indirectly help raise funds for their pledge to the church. The fellowship for the young people started with the organization of The Sheffield Challengers for the High School on December 18, 1949. This is now the Pilgrim Fellowship. On February 5, 1950 the Spur Club for the 7th and 8th grades was organized.

In the spring of 1950 the Church inaugurated the custom of bestowing Honorary Memberships on Ministers who had been especially helpful to the congregation. Being of considerable assistance in the start of The Westchester Community Church Honorary Charter Memberships were awarded to Dr. Arthur Cushman McGiffert, President of the Chicago Theological Seminary; Dr. Thomas L. Crosby, Pastor of The First Congregational Church of LaGrange, and from the Chicago City Missionary Society, Dr. Niel Hansen, General Director, and to his assistant. Reverend John Richard Schwenke. Honorary Memberships were bestowed on Reverend Marvin Halverson, Reverend Howard Munson and Reverend Hartley Ray, who had served as Interim Ministers before the arrival of the first resident Minister.

On February 12, 1950 occurred the most unusual baptism in the history of the church. When the ushers saw Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bachus arrive with their infant daughter, Linda, they surmised they had misunderstood the announced date for the next baptisms. In the desire to serve, the ushers passed a note to the Interim Minister, then hurriedly prepared the Baptismal Bowl. At an appropriate time in the service the Bachus1 were asked to come forward with their child. After the service, it was learned the baby was undressed and only wrapped in a blanket, as they had not expected the baby to be baptized.

On Palm Sunday, April 2, 1950, the first communion was celebrated shortly after communion trays and glasses were donated by a member. The first Annual Meeting of The Women's Society on April 26th resulted in the election of the following Officers:

President - Mrs. R. N. Nelson

Vice President - Mrs. C. N. Field

Treasurer - Mrs. T. O. Groenke

Corresponding Secretary - Mrs. P. S. Bickenbach

Recording Secretary - Mrs. Carl Nelson

The first Annual Meeting of the Church on May 17, 1950 reported a total of 168 embers and cash on hand of $1,245.21. The election resulted in the following:

Board of Trustees

C. N. Field - Chairperson.

P. S. Bickenbach

E. J. Eckhardt

E. A. Heitsch

E. J. Lesak

J. L. Whysong

S. McFarlane - Chairperson

B. F. Bachus

Mrs. C. H. Baker

Mrs. R. G. Brucker

O. C. Kohl, Jr.

Mrs. E. A. Heitsch

C. Nelson

Mrs. L. H. Jones

W. F. Sommer

Mrs. R. N. Nelson

J. H. Zimmermann

Mrs. E. M. Sammonds

Mrs. W. G. Fuetterer - Chairperson

Mrs. C. N. (Jo) Field

Mrs. L. H. Jones

Mrs. W. F. Sommer

Mrs. Charles Warren

Mr. E. A. Heitsch

W. G. Fuetterer

Music Committee

Charles S. Burdick

Mrs. C. T. Hauenstein

E. J. Busch

R. N. Nelson

Church Clerk - Mrs. Edwin K. Sergey

Treasurer - Mr. Charles Ray

The Church held the first Children's Day on Sunday, June 4, 1950. The records show 168 children enrolled in the Church School.  In June 1950, the Trustees applied for denominational assistance to purchase the lots at the northwest corner of Westchester Boulevard. and Bond Street at approximately $35.00 per front foot. This would provide a frontage of 304 feet by 265 feet.

Sunday, June 11, 1950, was a very happy occasion for the young congregation as Dr. Thomas L. Crosby received Reverend Oscar Bollman into the church membership and welcomed him as the first Resident Minister of The Westchester Community Church.

Reverend Bollman had been "called" from a large well established church in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was the Assistant Minister. His difficult challenge in Westchester was to develop a formal order of worship in rented school facilities, to stimulate more families to join the fellowship and also to advise the Sunday School Teachers, Officers and Board Members, as most of them had not had these responsibilities in other churches.

The church had arranged to rent for $100.00 per month a new home at 2214 Stratford Avenue for the parsonage and it became the weekly meeting place for choir rehearsals, for the monthly Cabinet Meetings, etc. The Women's Society Chapters and the various Boards continued to hold their meetings in the homes of members.

At the first Annual Meeting on May 19, 1950 it was decided to adjourn the meeting until September 20^th as May was too early to act on the budget for 1951. The adjourned meeting was called to order in September and the 1951 budget of $12,500. was adopted with a canvass goal of $8,000. The Trustees also solicited volunteer donations to help in the purchase of the selected site at Bond and Westchester Blvd., plus promised aid from the Board of Home Missions and the Chicago City Missionary Society who would each give a grant mortgage of $2,000 and a 3% First Mortgage of $5,000. A change was made in the Constitution to provide for the Annual Meeting to be held in September instead of May

The year brought a number of "firsts":

• Reverend Bollman issued Vol. 1 No. 1 of the Westchester Community Church News, which two years later was renamed :The Community Column".
• On October 27^th the first Installation Service for a Minister of The Westchester Community Church was held. At the LaGrange Congregational Church, the following participated in the Installation of Reverend Bollman:

Reverend John Richard Schwenke
Reverend H. Telford Mook
Dr. Niel E. Hansen
Dr. Fred Hoskins
Dr. Arthur Cushman McGiffert
Dr. Thomas L. Crosby
Reverend Truman Morrison

• To raise funds, the Women's Society issued Westchester's first book — "The Community Cook Book". The Maywood Herald described it as follows:

"The Community Cook Book, gleaned from the culinary pages of the Village, contains 350 tested recipes, household hints and numerous illustrations by Westchester artists. The recipes reflect that Westchester is one of the cross roads of the country where many nationalities have merged into a cooperative friendly group. Danish coffee cake, sauerbrauten, kolachy and listy mingle with Ozark pudding, Maryland chicken and Gram's chili sauce, to make The Community Cook Book an Epicurean delight."

• The first fall Every Member Canvas was held on November 12^th.
• The first Congregational Meeting to authorize entering into mortgages was held on November 5, 1950 to enable the purchase of eight lots at the corner of Westchester Boulevard and Bond Street for $17,600. The purchase would provide a 265 feet by 304 feet area as the church site. The motion passed unanimously.
• A Men's Club was organized on December 8, 1950.
• The Sunday School presented the Church's first Christmas Pageant on December 24^th.

Much had been accomplished by the time the New Year of 1951 arrived, but the young church in its enthusiasm did not realize that there would be much more dedication and hard work required before reaching the goal of a completed church.

1951

The year brought some additional "firsts":

• The first couples club featuring periodic pot luck suppers in members homes was started by Reverend Bollman on January 11^th. Later this was named the 50-50 Club.
• The Church's first Youth Sunday was held on January 28^th when the high school youth took over all phases of the morning worship in Nixon School.
• The first Building Committee was appointed by the Cabinet in June 1951, consisting of:

C. N. Field, Chairman
Howard Glawe
E. A. Heitsch
J. M. Pratt
W. F. Sommer
Willard Skoglund
Mrs. Ralph Baker
Mrs. L. C. Batson
Mrs. Walter Fuetterer
Mrs. Wendell Stevenson
Mrs. Albert Usas

It is well to pause at this point to imagine the impression the young church must have made on Ministers who conducted the services. The greeters at the door gave them a cordial welcome and directed them to the upper corridor to robe with the choir and to follow their processional into the high ceiling gymnasium with basketball hoops on the wall. In fact, one of the Ministers said after the service, it made him wonder if he could still "shoot a basket". The audience seated on folding chairs faced a table covered with fringed velvet cloth on which was a brass cross, candle sticks and flower filled vases. To one side was a pulpit converted from a radio cabinet, and to the other side a typical school upright piano. Overhead the exhaust fans were humming. It must have been quite a contrast for these men who were accustomed to speak from the pulpits of well appointed churches. However, the attentive audience soon made them realize that a church is not a building, but a gathering of people in worship.

1952

The Church existed even though it was renting school facilities and only had a mortgaged site and a vision. The brochure for the first building fund drive, "Ours For Tomorrow", was in readiness for the arrival of Mr. Curtis R. Schumacker from the Board of Home Missions on May 19, 1952. Following an intensive week of training sessions and meetings the canvassers, under the chairmanship of William Sommer, left the commissioning service on Sunday May 25th with a goal of $60,000, from calls on 219 families. At the June Trustees meeting, it was reported that 211 families had made a thirty month pledge of $47,874.60 for the church building. It is also significant that in the previous six months the members had raised:

$ 2,300 to help finance the purchase of the church site.

$10,700 in the Every Member Canvas for yearly operating expenses.

$ 1,000 to help finance the purchase of the parsonage at 2214 Stratford for $14,500.

In addition, funds were raised by collecting old newspapers, rummage sales, clothing resales, bake sales, the first Bazaar, sales of the Community Cook Book, and soliciting advertising for the program of the night out at the Goodwin Theatre. Much of the success of these projects came from the enthusiastic efforts of the Women's Society.

The few church furnishings and hymnals were stored on a truck beneath the stage and were brought out with the folding chairs for each Sunday Worship. One morning, an early arrival was pressed into service to help the ushers "set up the church". When the service started, the ushers were much surprised to discover that their helper, Blackie, was the guest Minister, Dr. Ira Black from the Board of Home Missions.

At the Annual Meeting on September 17, 1952, the 1953 budget of $13,727 was adopted with $10,427 to be raised by canvassing the 410 members. Also, the second revision to the Church Constitution was approved. Despite advance notice to the Deacons and the Trustees most members were shaken when Reverend Oscar Bollman submitted his resignation, effective October 5, 1952, to accept "a call" to a long established and well equipped church in Rockford, Illinois.

In the fall of 1952, Reverend Paul Davis, a graduate student at the Chicago Theological Seminary, started his Interim Ministry. He and his wife, Helen, resided on weekends in the parsonage the Bo1Imans had vacated. His ministry was very effective, but the Pastoral Supply Committee were unable to persuade him to become our Pastor after his graduation in June, 1953.

Fortunately, the Church did not have a crystal ball to foretell that in the next 19 years there would be five Resident Ministers and four Interim Ministers. If this had been realized, the Church might have lost the enthusiasm and the determination to work for their vision of building a well equipped church to serve the community. As the first four Resident Ministers averaged less than 2½ years each, it seemed that there was always a Pastoral Supply Committee seeking a Minister. The denomination showed its faith in the survival of the Westchester Community Church by helping the young church secure outstanding Interim Ministers.

The Committee found Reverend Charles L. Burns. He was an Associate Minister of The Community Church of Glenview, Illinois, who answered the call to become the second Resident Minister. His youthful energy, his concern for members, his leadership and his ability as an organizer and promoter contributed much to the construction of the House of Worship during his ministry.

Reverend Burns believed strongly in an informed and an involved congregation. With Mrs. Jack Davis as editor, he changed the monthly Newsletter into the very readable weekly "Community Column". He brought about the mimeographing of all Board meetings so that they might be distributed to the Board and the Cabinet Members. Mrs. Lawrence Jones, the first regular church secretary, set up the church office in her basement.

1953-1954

Junior High and High School Fellowship groups and camp programs were placed in the hands of a Youth Committee that later became a Board. Information slips were included in the Sunday Order of Worship so the Minister could be informed of the sick and others he should call on. In the fall of 1953, two Sunday morning Worship Services were started in Nixon School. This required the recruiting of a second adult choir plus a second staff of Sunday School teachers. The Church membership was 427 and 260 children were enrolled in the Church School.

At the Annual Meeting in September 1953, the Constitution was changed. This added six Members At Large to the Cabinet and added four new Boards:

This increased the number to be elected at this meeting from 23 to 77. In five short months, Reverend Burns had increased involvement by more than doubling the number of members having church responsibilities. On the agenda was the presentation of architect W. N. Alderman's drawing of the proposed church building. The meeting at The First Congregational Church of Oak Park was concluded in the Sanctuary by the Installation of Reverend Charles L. Burns as the Minister of the Westchester Community Church.

The increased involvement of members was a big factor in the very successful Every Member Canvas, which resulted in pledges of $22,000. against a goal of $20,000. as compared to the previous year goal of $10,427.

Some other significant firsts during the ministry of Reverend Burns were:

• Members each summer attended "Family Camp" at George Williams Camp at Lake Geneva.
• Union Thanksgiving Day Service with Broadview Community Church - November 1953.
• High School students assist Minister in Church Services - Fall 1953.
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Nixon School December 1953.
• Week-end Retreat for teen-agers at George Williams College Camp - March 1954.

The plans for the Church building were sent out for bids, but during the second Building Fund Drive, directed by Beaver Associates, the sealed bids from nine contractors were opened and the lowest bid of $265,000 exceeded the architect's estimate of $230,000. Although this drive in the Spring of 1954 exceeded the $100,000 goal by $5,000, the low bid prevented building what had been planned. Building Chairman, Charles Field, and his committee were then forced to review possible changes with architect William Alderman.

Following negotiations made by Reverend Burns in Chicago and New York City, the original promised denominational assistance was increased to $140,000 in loans and grant mortgages. The Building Committee, after negotiating possible changes in the project with the two low bidders, were able to award a contract to Chell and Anderson for $216,500.

Sunday, August 1, 1954. was an impressive and historic day in the life of the Westchester Community Church. The "Ground Breaking" was held on the mowed church site at Westchester Boulevard and Bond Street.. The church perimeter had been outlined by stakes and ropes. The worship center in the "chancel" was flanked by the choir and the pulpit. The congregation carried their folding chairs and shovels through the "narthex" to the "sanctuary" where they sat in rows. Following the Worship Service, the members with their shovels stood by the ropes outlining the church and at a signal from Reverend Burns, they "turned over" the sod.

Thus, five years after it was decided at a picnic to form The Westchester Community Church the construction had started! The membership was 528 and there were 296 enrolled in the Church School. Later that month Paul Reynolds, a graduate student at The Chicago Theological Seminary, and his wife were hired as Assistant Minister and as Choir Director. An apartment was provided for them in Bellwood.

Shortly after the Ground Breaking, a call for assistance came from Reverend Lawrence Tenehopen of The First Congregational Church of South Haven, Michigan. This hundred year old church desired to raise funds for an Educational Wing, and the Board of Home Missions had referred him to Westchester. As a result, five men agreed to help them plan and organize their campaign by making week-end trips to South Haven. These were participated in by Charles Field, William Heimann, Melbourne Pratt, Walter Fuetterer and Raymond Schill. In appreciation of this volunteer assistance "putting them over the top", the South Haven Church contributed $500 to the Building Fund of The Westchester Community Church.

November 7, 1954, was a bright crisp Sunday for the procession to the church site following the single Worship Service and Church School session at Nixon School. The occasion was the Corner Stone Laying Service at which the principal speakers in addition to Reverend Charles Burns and Moderator, Edward Thelin, were Mrs. Charles Field, first President of the Women's Society, and Dr. Arthur Cushman McGiffert, Jr., who had conducted the first Service of the Church five years previously.

1955

At the beginning of the year, the congregation made plans and eagerly looked forward to moving from the school gymnasium into their own House of Worship. Finally, on September 4th the First Service was held in the. building, although no doors had been installed nor any windows glazed. The congregation sat in folding chairs. The congregation faced a large brass cross on the Chancel wall, which was a gift from the First Congregational Church of LaGrange. The converted radio cabinet still served as the pulpit, but the electronic organ, purchased that spring, brought the choir and congregation to new heights in the hymns of joyous praise. Church School classes were held in Fellowship Hall at the same time as the church service.

Two weddings had been scheduled for the new building, however, due to construction delays, Nancy Bickenbach and Richard Eckhardt decided to have their June candlelight service in the Nixon gymnasium. This was the first time a wedding had been held in the school. Nancy Gustin and Richard Feener were married on schedule on September 3^rd in the new church building. Although the church was a doorless and windowless "shell", it was a very beautiful and significant ceremony for the young couple. A month later the optimism of the congregation was jolted when Reverend Burns submitted his resignation effective December 31, 1955, to accept "a call" from a church in Wichita, Kansas.

In November, a Pastoral Supply Committee was appointed and a successful Every Member Canvass met the $40,000. goal for the Operating Fund despite the commitments the church families had made to the Building Fund. The Treasurer's books on December 31, 1955 showed that in 20 months:

$67,169 had been paid against the thirty month Building Fund Pledge of $105,000.

$26,771 had been paid against the 1955 Operating Fund Pledge of $28,000.

The Church School enrollment was 400 and church membership had increased to 687 from the previous year’s total of 571.

1956

By dedicated efforts of the Officers, the Boards and the congregation the momentum was maintained. This was greatly assisted by Reverend William Ohan (who started his Interim Ministry on January 1, 1956) and also to the continued part time Assistant Ministry of Reverend Paul Reynolds. After 42 years as Pastor of the Bethany Presbyterian and Interim Ministry at five other churches, Mr. Ohan came to Westchester. Despite his advance years, his boundless energy, enthusiasm and inspiration, gave the Westchester Church new vitality and the desire to complete the "shell" of the church.

Thirty four members of the Pastor's Class were confirmed during Holy Week. The two youth choirs participated in the Proviso Area Choir Festival. The Women’s Society awarded a $5,745 contract to install monel range, refrigerator, dish washer and cabinets in the kitchen. The program on Children's Day listed 85 teachers and substitutes participating in the Church School program. The Chicago Congregational Association selected Charles Field as a delegate to the June 1956 General Council Meeting in Omaha, where the Congregational Christian Churches voted to merge with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches, to forerunner of the current The United Church Of Christ.

The Reverend Harry E. Philo was "called" from a large church in Detroit, Michigan.  He began his Westchester ministry on August 1, 1956 and on November 25^th was installed by Dr. Clarence McCall, Superintendent of the Illinois Conference. The emphasis of his ministry was on the improving of the Church School through training sessions for the teachers and making changes in the curriculum.

The newly equipped kitchen and the Fellowship Hall were being actively used for receptions, suppers and meetings of church groups. Reverend Philo suggested the use of the facilities necessitated the hiring of the first full-time janitor.

1957

At a special congregational meeting on June 7, 1957 the time of the Annual Meeting was changed from September until January, thus adding five months to the terms of those elected at the Annual Meeting in September 1956. The Benevolence Board and the Youth Board were discontinued -- their duties were taken over by the Board of Deacons and the Board of Christian Education.

1958

Following the resignation of Reverend Philo effective April 2, 1958, Dr. Francis McPeek served as a most inspiring and dynamic Interim Minister. During the week he served as the Director of Chicago's Department on Human Relations.

In July a "call" was issued to Dr. Einar M. Martinson, Pastor of a church in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Because of the number of his children and the condition of the parsonage, it was considered advisable by the Trustees to sell the house at 2214 Stratford and purchase a new three bedroom home at 2405 Boeger Avenue. This was ready for the Martinson Family on their arrival at the end of September.

A few weeks later, the congregation were saddened by the sudden death of Dr. McPeek who was stricken while preaching in a Park Forest church.

1959

At the Annual Meeting in January, the congregation voted to purchase the east half of the "L" right-of-way adjoining the west line of the church property. This was a very important decision as it made possible an adequate sized parking lot when the Educational Wing was completed nine years later. At this Annual Meeting, the offices of Vice Moderator and Assistant Treasurer were created; the office of Assistant Financial Secretary having been created the previous year. The second Building Committee was appointed and charged with the responsibility of completing the interior of the church.

In February when the congregation was looking forward to celebrating the Tenth Anniversary, Dr. Martinson suffered a heart attack. Two retired Ministers, Reverend Mallory Fitzpatrick and Dr. Roger Eddy Treat, each served as Interim Ministers for about a half of the seven month convalescence period. However, in November when Dr. Martinson lead the Tenth Anniversary Service, the congregation looked forward to renewed progress under his leadership. At this service, he was assisted by Reverend John Richard Schwenke, Assistant General Director of The Chicago City Missionary Society and the sermon was preached by Dr. Clarence McCall, Superintendent of the Illinois Conference. Mrs. Edward Lesak's solo, "Open The Gates Of The Temple" and the hymns of this Anniversary Service had been sung at the first Service in November, 1949.

The Church’s Tenth year ended with a real feeling of optimism! The Church had a membership of 653, a Church School enrollment of 402 and the Treasurer's books showed the Church was current on its mortgages and had $465.52 in the Operating Fund, $4,522.85 in the Building Fund, and $4,168.94 as Funds in Trust. More importantly Dr. Martinson had apparently recovered from his heart attack.

1960

The year proved a most active year in the life of the church! The membership continued to grow, the Church School program was expanded, the Pastor's Confirmation had over thirty students and the fellowship groups had active monthly programs. In addition, the Pilgrim Fellowship program and the church sponsored scouting troops provided activities for the young people. While the church met at Nixon School, joint Thanksgiving services had been held with the Broadview Community Church. In November I960 the Church started holding Union Thanksgiving Eve Services with the Westchester Baptist Church, inviting others in the community to attend. In December of I960 for the first time two Christmas Eve Candlelight Services were held and they were well attended.

The books at the end of I960 showed a membership of 742, a Church School of 419 with $1,158.72 in the Operating Fund, $18,144.97 in the Building Fund, and $5,869.98 for Funds In Trust. The village population had grown to 18,092.

1961

In February 1961 the "Bomb Fell". Dr. Martinson had another heart attack and on advice of his doctor resigned effective Easter Sunday, April 2^nd. The congregation during that farewell sermon were sad as they pondered how illness had struck down this husky man. He had brought a new momentum to the church as an excellent preacher. As a concerned pastor he had actively called on the members in their homes.

Meanwhile, in May The Westchester Community Church had ratified and accepted the constitution of the newly formed United Church of Christ.

The new Pastoral Supply Committee recommended on June 18^th that a "call" be extended to Reverend Richard W. Ingle of Quincy, Illinois. His ministry had brought a sizable growth in membership and the building of an Educational Wing on this old well established Quincy church.

When Reverend Ingle started his ministry in September 1961, the narthex had been completed and furnished and the ornamental ceiling lanterns had been hung in the sanctuary. The sanctuary walls were unpainted and there were no pews or other furniture. Sitting on folding chairs that fall, no member could foretell that by the time Reverend Ingle concluded his Westchester ministry, there would be a beautiful completed church and a well equipped Educational Wing.

The records show that at the end of 1961 the membership was 818, 366 children were enrolled in the Church School, 50 youths were in the Confirmation Class, and the Treasurer reported $1,199.41 in the Operating Fund, $2,463.81 in the Building Fund, and $9,208.06 in Funds in Trust.

1962

The second Building Committee, under the leadership of Jean VanOsdell, obtained congregational approval to "box in" the steel ceiling beams, paint the ceiling, tile the floor and install pews and other furniture in the Sanctuary.

Memorial and Special Gifts of members underwrote the cost of the pews and the furniture. This was completed prior to the 1962 Union Thanksgiving Eve Service with the Westchester Baptist Church. It was truly a time of thanksgiving by the Church members in reaching this goal in its building program.

The beautiful Sanctuary was now a perfect setting for the inspirational music of the choir, directed by Louis Gregsamer, for the Sunday, Advent and Holy Week Services. The church also became a favorite of the Elmhurst College Choir, who gave the first of numerous Ash Wednesday Sacred Concerts in the Sanctuary in 1962.

1963

The first church library was started in a small office in Fellowship Hall and in July the congregation authorized a contract to complete the Chancel. Individual gifts of members underwrote the cost of the large cross, altar, lectern, pulpit, choir stalls and carpeting.

1964

A special service to dedicate the completed Chancel was held in March.

1965

At the January Annual Meeting, as the church started its 16^th year, the membership had increased to 1035, the Church School enrollment was 350 and the Treasurer's books showed balances in Operating Fund of $1,900.11, Building Fund of $3,627.67 with $5,841.63 for Funds in Trust. The balances of mortgages for the church was $25,227.89, for the parsonage $15,521.91, and $14,000.00 on the Grant Mortgages.

The Special Congregation Meeting on September 26, 1965 authorized the Building Committee and the Trustees to enter into an architectural contract with Smith, Steenhoff & Associates to develop working drawings for the steeple, the portico and the Educational Wing. Also the Trustees were directed to seek a ten year extension on the $14,000 Grant Mortgages. That fall, the Opportunity Club put on sale the second edition of The Community Cook Book to raise funds to help furnish the wing.

1966

The January Annual Meeting showed church membership of 1045, Church School enrollment of 320 and the following balances: Operating Fund $2,734.66, Building Fund $6,761.59, Funds in Trust $6,913.24, Parsonage Mortgage $14,744.34, Church Mortgage $12,728.21 and Grant Mortgages $14,000.00. At this meeting final plans for completion of church and the wing were presented and it was predicted that construction would start in spring of 1967, when only $5,000 would remain on the first mortgage.

After serving the church as Organist and Choir Director for eleven years, Louis Gregsamer died of a heart attack in June. His wife, who had directed the three youth choirs, gave his Baldwin Organ to the church in his memory.

The model of the completed church was unveiled on Kick Off Sunday that fall with a goal of $100,000 in two years for the Building Fund, and $41,000 for the 1967 Operating Fund.

1967

The theme of the 17^th Annual Meeting on January 25 was "On The Threshold of Completion" as detailed plans for the Educational Wing, the portico and the steeple were presented by the Building Committee Chairman, Ray Hansen. As the church commenced it's 18^th year, the membership was 1,101 and 325 were enrolled in the Church School. The Treasurer's books showed the following balances:

The Special Congregational Meeting on February 26, 1967, authorized awarding contracts for the completion of the Church and building the Wing, plus the borrowing of necessary funds up to a total of $250,000. The Ground Breaking Service held on April 2^nd had Dr. James Smucker participating with Reverend Richard Ingle prior to the processional to the site, and was conducted by Moderator, Charles Field. One of the "golden" shovels used had seen service at the original ground breaking on August 1, 1954. The contracts for the construction with Nelson Brothers totaled $239,498. In June, the Wishing Well was reactivated to stimulate gifts with a goal of $14,462.00 to furnish the Wing.

1968

At a single Service on Sunday, May 19, 1968, the dream of 1949 was realized as the completed Church and Educational Wing were dedicated. Participating in this very significant Service were:

Rosalyn Lesak sang the solo, "Bless This House", just as she did at the First Service in the building on September 4, 1955. This Dedicatory Service was also the 16^th Anniversary of the first Building Fund drive, "Ours For Tomorrow". During the solo, many members thought back to this beginning of the building program which this day was completed.

1969

At the Annual Meeting in January, members who had worshipped in the Nixon School from 1949 to 1955 realized that their vision of a completed church had been accomplished, but probably little thought was given to the fact that in five years the church would be celebrating its 25^th Anniversary Year. The church membership was 1134 and 243 were enrolled in the well equipped Church School. The books showed available funds totaling $9,971.02, a first mortgage indebtedness totaling $242,972 plus $14,000 in Grant Mortgages. There was a hope expressed to pay off these first mortgages in fifteen years, just as the Church had paid off the original first mortgage.

The first twins, Karen and Kristine Wiedder, were baptized by Reverend Ingle in June 1969. Then on College Youth Sunday in December one of the sermonettes was given by Keith Reitz, who was the first of the Church School graduates to study for the ministry. It is said that for every minister that serves a church, that the church should have one of it's young people enter the ministry. So the church now had one in the ministry for the five who had served the church as resident Pastors.

1970 - 1971

The fall of 1970 brought the formation of Mission Councils throughout the Illinois Conference of The United Church of Christ, and the Westchester Community Church was represented by three members on Mission Council #5. The purpose of the Mission Councils were to bring the individual churches closer together and to participate in the decision making of the Conference.

Early in November the congregation received the disturbing news that Reverend Ingle had submitted his resignation to accept the call of the United Church in Neenah, Wisconsin effective February 1, 1971. Reverend Ingle’s nine years of service to the Westchester Community Church was longer than the combined service of the previous four Resident Ministers.

When Reverend Ingle had arrived in August 1961 the Narthex had been completed and furnished, but nothing had been done in the Sanctuary or the Chancel. The congregation sat on folding chairs. There was no portico or steeple, the Fellowship Hall was unpainted and no consideration was given to the building of an Educational Wing. This was all accomplished by the spring of 1968. Mrs. Ingle took an active part in her husband's ministry as a member of the choir and Church School teacher, and later as Director of Christian Education and as a leader of a weekday crafts class. There were two Sunday Morning Worship Services and two Church School sessions during these nine years. These accomplishments were recognized when Reverend and Mrs. Ingle were made Honorary Members at the farewell tea that was held shortly after the 21st Annual Meeting on January 27, 1971. Reports given at this meeting showed a membership of 1148, a Church School of 243, and the following balances:

During the summer of 1971, the Cabinet voted to discontinue the two Sunday Morning Worship Services that had been held since 1953. The new single Worship Service was scheduled for 10:00 A.M., the same hour that the services had been held during the summer months.

Reverend Calvin C. H. Bremer accepted the Church’s "call" after a nine year ministry in Decatur, Illinois which among other accomplishments included a large increase in membership and the building of an Educational Unit. Since coming to Westchester, he emphasized wider church fellowship.

Shortly after Reverend Bremer began his Westchester ministry on October 1, 1971, the second printing of the second Community Cook Book was put on sale by the Women's Association. Also the Doers & Goers had sell outs for the two evening performances of their professionally staged variety show, "The Thirties".

1972

At the Annual Meeting in January, the congregation adopted a budget which for the first time included a payment to be made against the Grant Mortgages. The annual reports showed a membership of 1098, and a Church School of 173, with the following Treasury balances:

The year was marked by a number of important events including

1973

The Annual Meeting of January reported a church membership of 1105, with 173 enrolled in the Church School. The books showed these balances:

Shortly before Holy Week, three teens broke into the church and did extensive vandalism in the Sanctuary and in the offices of the wing. Many members wondered if full repairs could be made before the church entered the 25^th Anniversary Year. Fortunately, parents of the teens made restitution of the $7,800 damage so that things were almost completely restored by the end of 1973.

The Parish Fellowship Board inaugurated the idea of Church Colonies. Four Sundays in the spring and another four in the fall were designated for the afternoon meetings of the Colonies in various homes. Also in the fall, Margaret Schroeder was made an Honorary Member for her twelve year service as Church Secretary, prior to moving to California. In preparation for the 25^th Anniversary Year, a Pictorial Directory was authorized and an Anniversary Committee was appointed by the Cabinet.

1974 – The Twenty-fifth Anniversary

The 1974 Annual Meeting closed out the 24^th year of the church. The reports showed a membership of 1075 with 148 children in the Church School. The Treasurer's books showed the following:

Early the year, the Village began preparations to observe it's 50^th Anniversary in 1976 when our nation observed it's 200^th birthday. From 1949 to 1974 Westchester has grown from a small community of 4200 people "at the end of the L line", to a thriving suburb of about 22,000 people. It is strategically located very close to the interchange between the Eisenhower Expressway and the Tri State, and the East-West Toll Roads. A CTA bus connects Westchester to the rapid transit terminus in Forest Park.

1974 was the 25^th Anniversary of The Westchester Community Church and the 25^th Anniversary Committee was formed to correlate the observances. On February 13, 1974, the Women's Society held a Husband's Nite at which the minutes of the first meeting on February 24, 1949 were read to observe their 25^th Anniversary. In March, the Doers & Goers held "At The Hop" as their Anniversary year celebration.

The Women's Society following their 1974 Annual Mother-Daughter Banquet relived history by presenting in the Sanctuary a pageant of thirty eight Bridal Gowns from 1886 up to April, 1974. Many of the models wore the wedding gowns in which they were married in the church.

Twenty-five years earlier in the summer of 1949 seventy Westchester families held a picnic by presenting in the Sanctuary a pageant of thirty-eight Bridal Gowns from 1886 up to April 1974. Many of the models wore the wedding gowns in which they were married.

Since the beginning the Women's Society of The Westchester Community Church has been the backbone of the progress that the church has made. An example of this strength is reflected in the May, 1974 report of the Society which showed that in the previous twelve months they had raised over $7,000 from their projects. This exceeds the $6,536 pledged in January, 1950 to the first Every Member Canvass.

After the leadership of six Pastors, the present congregation of about 350 families now worship in an imposing Colonial Church with a beautiful Sanctuary and a large well furnished Educational Wing. Also the church owns a three bedroom parsonage located at 2405 Boeger Avenue valued at about $45,000. The appraised value of the church facilities is about $1,000,000. At the end of June, 1974 the Treasurer's books showed the following balances:

From 1949 to 1974 a total of 2046 members had become a part of the Westchester Community Church fellowship.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen  . . . Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith . . . "                    (Hebrews 11:1, 12:1 2a RSV)

The power of holy scripture to life up the realities of life never ceases to amaze me.  The preceding selections from Hebrews were written for an entirely different time and people, yet they speak to the life of The Westchester Community Church with uncanny precision.  As a young church the cloud of witnesses is not "great," but their vision is still a very real part of the church today.  We re a liberal community oriented church seeking to "walk together in Christian love" and "to love our neighbors as ourselves".

Where that vision is going to take us is not clear.  But of this we are certain;  we will not walk our path alone.  God's blessings have been richly poured out upon us as a church, and with God's help we shall continue to be faithful to the vision of that cloud of witnesses whose faith we have inherited and to the call of Jesus who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

--Walter I. Thyng, Pastor

Source material included:

Articles by Charles N. Field from two Westchester Community Church publications

Last Modified:  10/31/2005