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Chicago, Illinois. Fourth Congregational Church. Records, 1895-1992
| Title | Chicago, IL : Fourth Congregational Church records |
| Creator | Cortland Street Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.) Grace Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.) Maplewood Church (Chicago, Ill.) Fourth Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.) National Association of Congregational Christian Churches |
| Dates | 1895-1992 |
| Physical description | 1.2 linear feet. 1 record box and 1 manuscript box |
| Collection number | RG 4965 |
| Access restrictions | None. |
| Copyright | Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the archivist or librarian. |
| Language | Material entirely in English |
| Collection processed by Sari Mauro, 2011 | |
Abstract
This collection consists of the records of Fourth Congregational Church, Chicago, organized in 1916. The Collection includes records relating to church governance and function, newsletter and directory publications, and notes and records of auxiliary committees and organizations.
Acquisition Information
Donated by the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, May 2011.
Organizational History
Fourth Congregational Church of Chicago (4thCC) traces its origins back to a Congregational Sunday school which started in 1867 and met in a blacksmith shop. From this Sunday school sprang three churches (Grace Church [1867], Cortland Street Church [1888], and Maplewood Church [1892]). These three churches merged in 1916 and took the name Fourth Church. Their building was destroyed by fire on January 27, 1925. A new building was proposed and building began in November of 1925 on Talman Avenue, the site of the old Maplewood church. The church joined the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches in 1962. In 1992, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Sunday school which started it all, Fourth Congregational Church was thriving with a strong Sunday school, a solid music program, was active in the Midwest Association of Congregational Christian Churches and the National Association Pilgrim Fellowship. As of 2011 the church has 13 active members and one staff person (the senior minister).
Ministers
| Walter A. Briggs | 1917-1920 | |
| Carl Stackman | 1920-1923 | |
| F. E. Stillwell | 1924-1927 | |
| Ernest A Reese | 1927-1933 | |
| John Bayne | 1934-1940 | |
| Rev. Miles | 1940-1941 | (interim) |
| Edgar Bell | 1941-1943 | |
| Reuben A. Strauss | 1944-1951 | |
| Guy D. Yoakum | 1951-1953(?) | |
| Warren Eugene Cotton | 1953(?)-1956 | |
| George Millar | 1957-1959 | |
| Edward F. White | 1959-1961 | |
| Rev. Pruter | 1961-1962 | (interim) |
| Robert Hanna | 1962-1965 | |
| Harold Finley | 1965-1966 | (and other interim periods) |
| Roger E. Dallwig | 1966-1974 | |
| Donald Mullen | 1975-1979 | |
| Bruce Goettsche | 1979-1980 | (interim) |
| David Henry | 1980-1999 | |
| Mark Shelton | 1999-approximately 2003 | |
| Dan Wood | approximately 2005-current |
Scope of the Collection
The Fourth Congregational Church records document the history of the organization, including finances, youth education and outreach, membership, and church life. Included in the records are correspondence, ledgers, reports, minutes, directories, newsletters and bulletins.
Arrangement
The Fourth Congregational Church records are arranged in three series. The records are in chronological order within the series.
| Series I | Church Records, 1895-1992 | |||
| Series II | Printed Material & Ephemera, 1916-1975 | |||
| Series III | Ledger book, 1927-1931 |
Related Material
Material from Fourth Congregational Church's youth outreach in Logan Square can be found at the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches.
Access Terms
Fourth Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.)
Congregational Churches - Illinois - Chicago
Chicago (Ill.) – Church history
Detailed Description and Container List