Churches

St. Paul Evangelical Church

In 1870, many of the members of St. John’s Church had moved to the village of Palatine. In order to serve them better, mission work began. Services began being held at the old Masonic Hall. The next year, the congregation was organized and named the German United Evangelical St. Paul’s Congregation. The first church building was dedicated in 1872 and a parsonage was built on Palatine Road, then Chicago Avenue. The parsonage burned in 1897 and was replaced the same year. In 1925, a new brick building replaced the wooden one. An addition was added in 1955. Since 1957, the church’s name became St. Paul United Church of Christ. In 1971, the church celebrated its 100 years by remodeled the sanctuary and in 1985 a new entrance was added and remodeling was done to make the church handicapped accessible.

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Salem Evangelical Church

Circuit riders from DesPlaines held services among the early Plum Grove settlers. John Nordmeier donated land at Plum Grove and Kirchoff Roads to build a church. There is no record of when it was built but it was struck by lightning and burned in the early 1890′s. This church was built at the same location. In 1912, a lot was purchased at Plum Grove and Lincoln and the building was moved into town. The congregation became small and was disbanded in 1955. The building was sold to the Lutheran Church. The Salem Cemetery at Plum Grove and Kirchoff still exists on the land once belonging to this church.

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St. John Evangelical Church

This is the present church of St. John’s built in 1885. It was the third building on these grounds. The first was built in 1846, replaced in 1876, burned down and rebuilt in 1885. In 1957 the name of the church became St. John United Church of Christ, a denomination formed from the merger of two church groups. Directly east of the church are early burials. Many early German settlers are buried here. East of the parsonage is the newest section of the cemetery called Mount Hope. Three acres of land west of the church were purchased and in 1969 St. John Garden Chapel was dedicated.

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Immanuel Lutheran Church

In 1869, eleven families met at the train depot to discuss the formation of a Lutheran congregation. Before that a minister from Schaumburg Township held services every other Sunday at the Masonic building at Wilson & Bothwell. A week later the membership was formally organized. Four acres were purchased on Greeley Street including the cemetery. The cemetery was formally dedicated and plans progressed for a church building on that site. Lack of funds held up the building of the church and eventually the land was sold to H. C. Batterman. With that money, a church building formerly used by the Disciple Church was bought on Plum Grove Road. A parsonage was built to the north of the church. In 1873, the congregation joined the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri. Services were held in German until after the turn of the century when English services were held once a month. Since 1943, all services are in English. The present church building was dedicated in 1970 and additions have since been built.

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Countryside Church Universalist Unitarian

This church held its first meetings at the Highland Grove School at the southwest corner of Algronquin Road and Ela Road in 1960. They have since moved to their current location at 1025 North Smith Street.

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St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church

 

Cardinal Albert Meyer appointed Fr. John Wall who named the parish St. Thomas of Villanova.  The land was purchased in the Winston Park subdivision.  In 1962 the Women’s Club was formed.  Fr. Francis Waldron was appointed pastor.  Ground breaking ceremonies took place for the school building.  In 1963 the rectory (1138 Anderson) and the convent (1152 Anderson) were purchased.  The first mass was celebrated in the church space located in the school.  St. Thomas of Villanova School opened with grades 4, 5, and 6 in September.  From 1967 to 1971 Fr. James Rowley was appointed pastor, the new Church building was dedicated, the parish Council and the Board of Education began, and the Home School Association met for the first time.  The first permanent Deacons, John Pistone and John Richard, were ordained and the first lay principal, Charles Swangren, was hired in 1972.  In 1974 Fr. Jim Wheaton was the first parishioner to be ordained a priest.  In 1983, forty-six years after his ordination, Fr. James Rowley announced his retirement.  Father Walter Huppenbauer was appointed pastor.  St. Thomas celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 1986.  In 1988 church needs were reassessed and confirmed.  An architectural firm does preliminary design.  In 1994 Fr. Ray Yadron was appointed pastor.  In 1999 St. Thomas was accepted as a pilot parish in the Archdiocesan Millennium Campaign, “Sharing Christ’s Gifts.”  During 2002-2003 a ground breaking ceremony and dedication for a gathering hall, office, and meeting rooms to be added on to the church.  In 2006 Fr. Ray Yadron announced his retirement.  Fr. Tom Rzepiela was appointed pastor.  In 2009 preparation began for St. Thomas’s 50^th anniversary in 2011.  Renovation of the church was scheduled.  In 2011 a series of planned celebrations began, culminating in the dedication and blessing of STV church and grounds with Cardinal Francis George.