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Summerdale Community Church (Chicago, Ill.)

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1931 (date of establishment)
  • Existence: 2016 (date of dissolution)

Historical Note

The Summerdale Congregational Church formed in 1890 out of a Sunday school that met in the Summerdale railway station. A year later, the Summerdale Congregational Church was organized with Rev. Zwingle H. Smith as its minister. Construction of a physical church building on West Farragut Street began in 1893 with the help of a subscription drive and additional support from R. J. Bennet. The basement of the church was completed in 1894 and additional construction was stalled until 1899 following another subscription drive with additional support from Dr. E.P. Goodwin and Dr. F.A. Noble. The church building was finally completed in September of 1900. During the early 20th century, the church building doubled as a sewing school for young women, graduating approximately 80 girls. In 1931, the Summerdale Congregational Church merged with Argyle Community Churches to form the Summerdale Community Church. In 2016, the Summerdale Community Church dissolved and gifted the church building to The Night Ministry, an organization devoted to helping the poor and homeless, following declining membership and mounting costs to maintain and fix the building.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Chicago, Ill. Summerdale Community Church records, 1890-1954.

 Collection
Identifier: RG5218
Abstract

The Summerdale Congregational Church formed in 1899 out of a Sunday school that met in the Summerdale railway station. A year later, the Summerdale Congregational Church was organized. The records include correspondence, treasurer’s reports and receipts, church and committee minutes, and vital records.

Dates: 1890-1954