Bethel Lutheran Church of Englewood
Bethel Lutheran Church, 6201 S. Sangamon, was organized on October 17, 1890 as the Svenska Evangeliska Lutherska Bethelförsamlingen (or the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Bethel Congregation) a member of the Augustana Synod. It was formerly located at 6200 S. Peoria Ave.
Assisted by Rev. A.S. Becklund, city missionary, the congregation was organized to serve the Swedish residents of the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. In 1891 two lots were purchased near the southeast corner of Sangamon and 66th Streets. A frame church was constructed in 1891.
In 1902 four lots were purchased on the southwest corner of 62nd and Peoria. The Gothic church (pictured above) constructed there was dedicated on Nov. 28, 1909.
In 1970 a new multi-purpose facility was constructed at 6201 South Sangamon and the old building was demolished.
Pastor A.P. Fors helped organize Ebenezer Swedish Lutheran Church of Oakdale in 1903. In 1908 the Bethel Sunday School's branch at Ashland and 63rd St., led to the organization of a congregation at 67th and Hermitage.
In 2001 the congregation merged with Imani Lutheran, itself a merger of Messiah and St. Matthew, both old Augustana Synod congregations, to form Bethel Imani Lutheran Church. The merged congregation continued to use Bethel's building at 6201 S. Sangamon.
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Pastors include |
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A.S. Becklund |
1890-April 1899 |
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A.P. Fors |
May 1899-1927 |
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C. Emil Bergquist |
1928-1952 |
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Charles J. Curtis |
1953-1959 |
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Bruce D. Johnston |
1959-1967 |
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A. Sherwood Nelson |
1967-1990 |
Original records
Original record books should be found at Bethel Lutheran Church, 6201 S. Sangamon Ave., Chicago, IL 60621. Early record books have been microfilmed and are available from the ELCA Archives and from the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Filmed as Augustana #A5, the microfilm includes church minutes from 1890-1931 and membership records from 1890-1931. The ELCA Archives also has congregation histories and other materials relating to Bethel.
Sources
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Englewood, Yearbook and Church Directory, 1950.
Evangelical Lutheran Bethel Church, Dedication Souvenir Directory of the Evangelical Lutheran Bethel Church, 1910.