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Village Church
4475 Wolf Road
Western Spring, Illinois

The Village (Baptist) Church building has evolved and expanded over the years.  It began in 1937 with the construction of its basement. The basement served as the church until the completion of its first floor in 1949.  The education wing was added in 1957.

On December 9, 2001, ground was broken to expand the Village Church to accommodate 465 worshippers.

The church had 210 members in 2001.

It was in 1943 when Billy Graham, a recent Wheaton College graduate, was invited to become the new pastor at the Village (Baptist) Church in Western Springs. His Songs in the Night radio program began broadcasting on January 2, 1944.  The members of his church believed in the power of these broadcast, raising $85 per week to keep it on the air.  The program always started with the now famous words,

"Coming to you from the friendly church in the pleasant community of Western Springs."

Many local individuals participated in the Western Springs broadcasts:

Graham left the church after a few months.

Sources of information include, but were not limited to “Images of America – Western Springs, Illinois”, by Betsy J. Green, Arcadia Publishing.

Last Modified:  05/15/2003