St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1911 by the General Synod. It was located at Lawler & Dickens Aves., and later at 4855 W. Homer St.

In the early part of 1911, Rev. C.W. Knudten, pastor of St. Simon's, made a survey of the community of Cragin to determine whether the community could support a German Lutheran church. Finding encouraging results, he held the first service on July 12, 1911. After the service several worshippers joined with Rev. Knudten to organize St. Paul's.

Beginning in a basement at 5003 W. Grand Ave., services were held in a vacant store at LeClaire and St. Paul Aves., and later in another store at 5027 W. Grand. In early 1915 two lots were puchased at the corner of Lawler and Dickens Ave. In December of 1915 the chapel was dedicated.

In 1922 the congregation decided to sell the chapel and property and purchase a new church and parsonage at 4855-59 Homer Street. The new church (pictured above) was dedicated on January 14, 1923.

On April 10, 1926, Rev. Alfred Zintz organized a congregation for a group of Siebenbuerger Saxons. This congregation, called the Stephen Ludwig Roth Congregation, held services at Grace Lutheran Church at 555 Belden Ave. Rev. Ernst Schmidt was chosen as pastor of the congregation in 1929, and through his friendship with Rev. Amend of St. Paul's, the two congregations merged on January 1, 1930.

In 1946 the church and parsonage were remodeled with brick facing added to the exterior.

On Feb. 1, 1988 it merged with St. Paul's of Evanston, and moved to that location.

Original records
Original record books should be found at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1004 Greenwood St., Evanston, IL 60201. The ELCA Archives has congregational histories and other materials relating to St. Paul's.

Sources
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Our Golden Anniversary, 1911-1961.