Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church of West Englewood

Messiah Lutheran Church was organized on Chicago's South Side in 1908 by the Augustana Synod at 1910 W. 64th St.

Through the efforts of Bethel Lutheran Church, the Messiah Lutheran Church Sunday School was organized on April 12, 1908, meeting in a store at 1710 West 63rd St., and later at 6514 S. Ashland Ave. A formal organizational meeting was held on Dec. 1, 1908, when the name "The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Messiah Church of West Englewood" was adopted.

In Oct 1909, Messiah purchased three lots at 67th and Hermitage Ave. (later Marquette Rd.), and by July 1910 a building was erected, consisting of Sunday School and chapel on the first floor and the pastor's home on the second.

Messiah purchased two lots on the northwest corner of 64th and Wolcott in June 1913, and in 1916 sold the Marquette Road chapel. The new building was opened on Dec. 24, 1916.

On Oct. 15, 1996, Messiah consolidated with St. Matthew (1914, Augustana) to form Imani Lutheran Church at 6410 S. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60636. In 2001 Imani merged with Bethel Lutheran (1891, Augustana) to form Bethel Imani Lutheran Church, 6201 S. Sangamon.

Original records
Original record books for Messiah may be located at Bethel Imani Lutheran Church, 6201 S. Sangamon Ave., Chicago, IL 60621. Early record books have been microfilmed as Augustana A13, and are available at the ELCA Archives and at the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center in Rock Island, Ill.. The microfilm includes church minutes from 1908-1931 and membership records from 1909-1931. The ELCA Archives also has a collection of congregational histories, church publications and other materials relating to Messiah.

Sources
Messiah Lutheran Church, 60th Anniversary booklet, 1968.