First Baptist Church II

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First Baptist Church II
Life Span: 1853/1864-1949
Location: SE Corner of Washington and LaSalle Streets, moved in 1864 to SE corner of Morgan and Monroe streets as the Second Baptist Church
Architect: TBD

The very First Baptist Church was built in 1841 on the SE corner of Washington and LaSalle streets. A new church was erected in 1854 on the same location. This building was replaced by the Chamber of Commerce building in 1864. The First Baptist congregation built a new building on the SW corner Wabash and Hubbard Court Streets. The previous First Baptist Church building was purchased by the Second Baptist congregation and was moved to the SE corner of Morgan and Monroe streets.

History of Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1884

On October 20, 1852, the church building caught fire from sparks falling from the tobacco-pipe of a workman, who with others was engaged in re-shingling it, and it was totally destroyed. The next day a meeting was held, and a committee appointed to build a new church. The corner-stone was laid July 4, 1853, and the building was dedicated November 12, of the same year. The cost of this building was $30,000. It was also during Rev. Mr. Burroughs’s pastorate that the Wabash Avenue Baptist Church was organized, mainly by members of this Church. Dr. W. G. Howard, formerly of the Second Baptist Church of Rochester, was chosen pastor in May, 1856. In the following September Union Park Baptist Church was organized, and in November the North Baptist Church, mainly from members of the First Baptist Church. Dr. Howard resigned his pastorate in 1859, and removed to New Orleans, having added two hundred and twenty new members to the Church.

Chicago Tribune, February 24, 1864

Pursuant to notice given on Change yesterday noon, a large meeting of the members was held last evening at the Board of Trade rooms to select a site for the proposed Exchange building. At 8 o’clock the chair was taken by John L. Hancock, Esq., the President, when the following proposals were read by the Secretary, John F. Beatty, Esq.:

Signed by J.M. Vanosdel, Francis P. Van Wyck, T. Maple, Hohn K. Pollard, R,M. Graves, and J.W. Gillette.

The Garrett Biblical Institute offered to lease the lot on the corner of Lake and Market streets, 100×180 feet, for the term of one hundred years, as follows, for the use of Board of Trade building:

And then to be appraised by disinterested parties for twenty years, and for each twenty years thereafter, until the end of one hundred years, upon which value a rental equal to six per cent is to be paid. The stockholders to pay all assessments and taxes. The lot is, by statute, free from taxation.

Signed by
Hon. Grant Goodrich,
President Board of Trustees.

Chicago Tribune, April 2, 1864

—The congregation of the First Baptist Church hold their last service in their place of worship, on the corner of Lasalle and Washington streets, next Lord’s day, April 8. In the morning at 11 o’clock there will be a discourse appropriate to the occasion by the Pastor W.W. Everts, D.D., and the celebration of baptism, and union communion of all the Baptist Churches in the evening. Former members and friends of the denomination, and citizens generally, are invited to attend. After next Sabbath the congregation will meet in Bryan Hall. Preaching at 10:30 a.m. by the Pastor.

Chicago Tribune, April 27, 1864

Fair Division. —The West Side and South Side members of the First Baptist Society have agreed upon a fair division of the old church building and its contents. The latter take the inside, and the former the outside—that is the members from the South Division take the fixtures and inside work while the-members from the West Division take the building. The work of demolition is proceeding in a most careful and systematic manner; in a few months the entire church will be reconstructed upon a lot in the West Division.

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