First Presbyterian Church

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First Presbyterian Church, South Presbyterian Church
Life Span: 1857-1871
Architect: Boyington & Wheelock
Location: Wabash avenue, between Congress and Van Buren

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859

First Church.

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863
First Church. Wabash Avenue, near Congress st. Society organized 1833. Church erected 1856. Rev. Z. M. Humphrey, Pastor.

Halpin’s Chicago City Directory for 1864
First Church. Wabash Avenue, near Congress st. Society organized 1833. Church erected 1856. Pastor Z. M. Humphrey.

John C. W. Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867
First Presbyterian Church, New School, Rev. Z. M. Humphrey, pastor, Wabash av nr Congress

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
First Presbyterian Church, Arthur Mitchell, pastor, ns. Congress, bet. State and Wabash av.

Chicago Tribune, July 26, 1858

Rev. R. W. Henry, paster of the South Presbyterian Church, corner of Congress street and Wabash avenue, will preach at the usual hours to-day-10½ o’clock A.M., and 7½ P. M.

Chicago Tribune, November 18, 1858

SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. -We notice that the work on the new place of worship of South Presbyterian Church, Rev. R. W. Henry, Pastor, is being pushed rapidly forward, the building exteriorly is nearly finished.

Chicago Tribune, July 24, 1857

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—This fine Norman edifice, on Wabash Avenue, is nearly completed and will probably be opened for worship before the middle of August. It is one of the finest and most imposing church edifices in the Union.

Chicago Tribune, September 29, 1857

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.—The new church edifice of the First Presbyterian Church in this city will be dedicated on Thursday, the 15th of October’ and the usul public services will be commenced there on the succeeding Sabbath.

Weekly Chicago Times, December 31, 1857

The First Presbyterian Church, also built of Athens marble, 68×166 feet. Cost $75,000, of which the last $30,00 was expended in this year. Boyington & Wheelock, architects.

The First Presbyterian Church, A History of the Oldest Organization in Chicago, Philo Adams Otis, 1900

November 6, 1855, the trustees—Charles N. Henderson, Claudius B. Nelson, Samuel P. Farrington, Augustus Gould Downsand Amzi Benedict—purchased from Mr,Carlton Drake the north half of lot 8 in block 10, in Fractional Section 15, Addition to Chicago. Six months later to a day, May 6, 1856, Mr. Austin Goodrich conveyed to the same trustees the south half of said lot 8, making a total frontage of eighty feet on Wabash Avenue. The cost of the entire property was about 812,500.

The new edifice was commenced in 1856, and completed in October, 1857, under the supervision of Boyington & Wheelock, architects. The Chicago Daily Press of Friday, October 16, 1857, gives the following account of the dedicatory services, which took place on the previous evening:

There was an impressive sermon by the pastor. Dr. Curtis. Mr. W. H. Currie, the accomplished organist of St. Paul’s, brought out the power of the fine organ in a striking manner. Although the weather was unfavorable, there was a large audience present. The house is finely lighted by day through the rich stained glass windows in the ceiling, and the effect of gas light on the interior at night is the finest possible.

The same paper in their issue of Monday, October 19, 1857, gives further details of the interior finish :

The pulpit is located in front of the organ gallery (at the west end of the church), semi-octagon in form, and is grained in imitation of English oak. The organ is a splendid instrument. The case, or screen, is executed in the same style of architecture as the other parts of the house, and was designed by the architect to fill the place arranged for it. It is a perfect model. The instrument is one of the largest first-class organs made by the well known firm of Hall & Labagh, of New York City. The case of the organ has been grained to correspond with the pulpit and pews.

The Daily Press closes its articles on the description of the church with this notice from the trustees, regarding the sale of pews to be held on the evening-of October 19:

In view of the favorable circumstances of the Society and the present stringency in monetary affairs, and wishing to place it within the means of every member of the Society to purchase a seat, the trustees are induced to offer the most favorable terms, viz.: Ten per cent cash, ten per cent in three months, five per cent in six months, and the balance in one, two and three years from day of sale, with interest at ten per cent. The prices of pews range from $25 to $800.

The total cost of the land, building, organ and furnishings was about $135,000.

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