Ckark Street Methodist Episcopal Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church
Life Span: 1858-1871
Location: Clark and Washington Streets
Architect: Burling
Chicago Tribune, August 5, 1858
Yesterday was an interesting occasion to the very many of our citizens who view with gratification the even pace kept by our church enterprises with the rapid growth of our city. One by one the structures, of not very olden time it is true, but nevertheless old for Chicago, are giving place to church edifices as a class second to none in the United States for elegance and costliness. It is still a vexed question with the religious community this matter of costly and splendid sanctuaries, but as one after another they rise here and elsewhere wherever a Society enjoys the prosperity to warrant the outlay, it is probable that the generally received opinion is the same expressed by some one in our hearing not long since that “the Devil has no exclusive claim to the skill and services of architects and the art of the cunning workman.” We are glad to herald each successive addition to the number of our first class church structures, and among these this the latest will so, the least noteworthy.
The old Clark street Methodist Church was not old save fourteen years of Chicago history covers the effects of two generations of growth and progress under ordinary circumstances elsewhere. It was a plain but not inelegant brick structure, erected in 1844, and dedicated on Thursday evening, Nov. 13th, 1845.
On this occasion a sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Mitchell, Presiding Elder, and we find by referring to the tiles of the Gem of the Prairie of that date, that the new structure was filled to overflowing. The edifice is spoken of as “the Methodist Episcopal Church in our city,” a phrase long since made unmeaning by the rapid increase in the number of Churches of this denomination among us.
The account quoted from adds that “the proportions and finish of the New Church are universally admired, but its dimensions obtain our especial approval, enabling as they do the multitude to worship God.”
The immediate cause for the demolition of the olf church was the change in the street grade at that place raised some five feet.
The new structure is to be an elegant and costly one, and as a novel feature here, will be made to present the external appearance of a first class business block in Athens marble fronting on Clark and Washington, with the main audience and class rooms in the upper stories, giving the main floor to stores and offices. The advanatges sought are a freedom from the noise and din of the street inseparable from a location so central, and the secondary but not trifling advantage of the revenue so to be derived. We have described the features of the edifice in detail already and shall have occasion to do so hereafter, and omit further reference at this time.
Clark Street Methodist Episcopal Church
History of Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1885
First Methodist Episcopal Church.—The history of this Church in the preceding volume closed with the change of name from the Methodist Episcopal Church of Chicago to the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Chicago. At that time, Rev. James Baume was pastor. The building erected in 1845 was still in use, but the city was growing in wealth as well as size. and the members saw their building being surpassed by other churches. On February 6, 1858, a meeting was held to consider plans for a new edifice “which should be fully up to the grade of modern architecture.” A committee of fifteen was appointed to take charge of the matter. Soon after the old building was torn down and work on the new one commenced. In the meantime the congregation worshiped in Mechanics’ Hall, on the southwest corner of Clark and Washington streets (right). The corner-stone of the new building was laid August 4. 1858, by Rev. D. D. Kidder, of Evanston.
The new building was an elegant marble structure, presenting the appearance of a fine business block, four stories high. The lower or main floor was given up to stores, the second to offices, and the two upper stories to the purposes of the Society. The main audience room was the height of both stories. It had a gallery, and would seat two thousand people. The congregation commenced worshiping in the lecture-room on Sunday, December 5, 1858. Rev. James Baume preached his last sermon to them two weeks later, before starting to India as a missionary. The new church was dedicated April 28, 1859. The cost of the entire structure was about $70,000. After the departure of Rev. Mr. Baume, there were various supplies, among whom were Rev. E. M. Boring and Dr. Kidder; and on October 21, i860, Rev. O. H. Tiffany preached his first sermon as pastor. Dr. Tiffany resigned in May, 1862; after which the pulpit was supplied by Rev. T. M. Eddy, D D., from 1st of June until the following fall, when Rev. Francis D. Hemin way was appointed. In 1864, he was succeeded by Rev. C. H. Fowler, who remained three years. The next pastor was Rev. W. C. Dandy, who was succeeded by Rev. John A. King, and he by Rev. W. H. Daniels, who was pastor at the time of the great fire of 187 1, which destroyed the building.
In 1865, an appeal was made to this Church by the West Indiana Street Church for pecuniary aid, and a resolution was passed that this application should be first on the list, after the on Indiana Avenue, which was purchased for what is now Trinity Methodist Church, should be paid for. Nearly every Methodist Church in the city, organized since that date has received assistance from the First Methodist Church, which before the great fire had given away over $70,000. The loss occasioned by the great fire was $130,000, but as the insurance on the building and organ had been placed in solvent companies, the Church realized from that source $65,501.68. From funds collected from abroad, in excess of chapel fund, there were $10,000. So that the net loss was a little in excess of $50,000.
Clark Street Methodist Episcopal Church
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
Clark Street Methodist Episcopal Church
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
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