Luther Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church / Ravenswood English Lutheran Church

Luther Memorial was organized as Ravenswood English Evangelical Lutheran Church on April 22, 1897 as a member of the Northern Illinois Synod of the General Synod. A lot was purchased at 2120 Sunnyside Ave., and the building (pictured above) constructed on that site was dedicated on Nov. 27, 1898.

By 1914 it was apparent that the congregation needed additional space. A promising field was evident in West Ravenswood, where four lots were purchased at Wilson and Campbell Avenues in July 1914.

In March 1917 the congregation adopted the name "Luther Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church" in honor of the four-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation. In June 1917, the old building was sold, and in July congregation moved to temporary quarters until the new building (pictured above) was completed in December 1918.

By the early 1920s, the congregation was again in need of new facilities. Construction began in August 1925, and the building (pictured below) was dedicated on Nov. 14, 1926.

Luther Memorial's home page can be found at www.luthermemorialchicago.org.

Original records
Original record books should be found at Luther Memorial Church, 2500 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60625-3026. The ELCA Archives has some congregation histories and other materials relating to Luther Memorial.

Sources
"25th Anniversary Festival, Luther Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church," Souvenir program, 1922.

"The Voice of Luther Memorial Church, the 50th Anniversary," 1947.