Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peace
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peace traces its history to another congregation, called the Evangelisch Lutherische Separierte Gemeinde, organized in 1870. When that congregation, located at Wood and Iowa Streets, decided to disband in 1922, some members decided to carry on in the Portage Park-Norwood Park area of Chicago.
Led by Pastor Otto Doering of the Wartburg Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America, the congregation met for worship originally at a schoolhouse at Montrose and Melvina Avenues, at 5944 W. Cullom. In 1923 the congregation purchased lots on the northwest corner of Mason and Cullom Avenues. The parish house (pictured at bottom), completed in 1923, served as a worship home until the permanent worship facility (pictured at top) was completed in December 1928.
In 1998 Peace merged with Gladstone Park (1936, ULCA), Holy Communion (1966, LCA), Medill Avenue (1927, NLCA), Nebo (1901, Augustana), Our Lord's American (1934, ALC), Our Saviour's English (1909, United Norwegian), and St. Andrew (1924, ULCA) to form United in Faith Lutheran Church.
Original records
Original record books for Peace and its predecessor church should be located at United in Faith Lutheran Church at 6525 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634. The ELCA Archives has congregation histories and other material relating to Peace.
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Pastors |
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Otto Doering |
1923-1963 |
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Harry W. Ecklund |
1963-1968 |
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Kornel J. Tessenyi |
1969-1978 |
Sources
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peace, "Rededication, 1923-1973," 1973.
Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peace, 1948.