Second Presbyterian Church
Life Span: 1852-1871
Location: NE Corner of Washington Street and Wabash Avenue
Architect: James Renwick
- D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859-60
Presbyterian—New School. Second Church—Situated on Wabash av., corner of Washington st. Society organized 1842. House erected 1850. Pastor, R. W. Patterson, D.D. Sexton, S. P. Warner.
Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863-64
Presbyterian—New School. Second Church—Wabash avenue, corner of Washington street. Society organized in 1842; House erected in 1850. Pastor, Rev. R. W. Patterson, D.D.; S.P. Warner.
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870-71
Second Presbyterian Church—Wabash avenue, northeast corner of Washington street. Rev. R. W. Patterson, D.D., pastor, residence 5 Van Buren street. Divine service at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sabbath school, 12 m. Kirk Howes, superintendent.
The Second Presbyterian Church was built of grey oil stone in 1852. Its architect was James Renwick, the designer of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and of “The Castle,” the original building of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
The growth of the membership of this Church in 1858 was especially memorable, there having been added to the church-roll nearly one hundred persons, making a total of five hundred and eighty-seven since the organization of the Church. The church-building, on the corner of Wabash Avenue and Washington Street, was regarded at that time as one of the finest in the West. It was constructed of bituminous limestone, and was known as the “spotted church,” on account of the exudations from the stone of the dark-colored, crude petroleum. By the profane, it was known as the “Church of the Holy Zebra.”
Like Crosby’s Opera House, it was lost in the fire. Unlike Crosby’s, it was rebuilt, though not in the same place. It moved to its current site at 1936 South Michigan, close to the Prairie Avenue neighborhood where several of its wealthy parishioners lived.
- Second Presbyterian Church
1862
Chicago Tribune, September 26, 1871
The Second Presbyterian Church having formally united with the Olivet Presbyterian Church, and the action ratifled by the Presbytery of Chicago, notice was given on Sunday that a memorial service would be beld in the Second Church on Sunday night, at which all the old members of the church are invited to be present. On Tuesday evening, October 3, a reunion of the old and new members of the church will be held at the church, after which the church will be closed and the building sold, or the material used as far as possible in the construction of the new church.
- Second Presbyterian Church
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
Chicago Tribune, March 4, 1894
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