Norwood Park Evangelical Lutheran Church

Under the direction of the Home Mission Board of the Illinois Synod, Rev. Coy L. Stager, assisted by Rev. W.D. Spangler and Rev. E.C. Dolbeer, made a house to house canvass of Norwood Park with the hoep of establishing a Lutheran church in September and October 1920. The results were encouraging, and on November 7, 1920, the first service was held in the hall at the corner of Nina and East Circle Avenues. On January 23, 1921, Rev. J.F. Seibert, president of the Illinois Synod, preached the sermon and organized the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norwood Park, consisting of 41 charter members, with Rev. Stager selected as the first pastor. By 1923, the congregation had obtained a large lot at Nina and Nickerson Avenues.

Construction on the original Tudor building (below) began in early 1923, with dedication on January 6, 1924. An educational unit was added in 1955. A new church building (above) was constructed and dedicated in April 1961.

Records
The original record books should be found at Norwood Park Ev. Lutheran Church, 5917 N. Nina Ave., Chicago, IL 60631. The congregation’s archives also has information regarding congregational anniversaries; material on women’s groups, including Lutheran Church Women and the Helen C. Dyer Mission Society; photographs; newsletters; bulletins; and film footage of various congregational ministries. A DVD has been prepared that includes film footage of the 1935 church picnic, the dedication of the new building, and interviews of confirmands by Pastor Best. Contact the congregation for more information on the DVD and archives.

The ELCA Archives has congregation histories and other materials relating to Norwood Park, as well as microfilmed ministerial records from 1921-1972 on film #1262.

Sources
"Norwood Park Evangelical Lutheran Church Album Directory," Skokie, Ill.: LeMann & Associates, 1976.