Chicago Lutheran History: St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church — 1871

In 1896, the Lutheran churches of Chicago published Geschichte der Gründung und Ausbreitung der zur Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten gehörenden Evangelisch-Lutherischen Gemeinden U. A. C. zu Chicago, Illinois, a history of their growth in the city beginning with First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, now located on LaSalle and Goethe streets in Chicago. As far as I know, there is no English translation, so I offer this to share the history with you. Follow me to get updates about the rest of this work.

On the left is an illustration of the rebuilt church, and the right is the same church today.

St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church is still in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Once a center for German immigration, Pilsen is now mostly Hispanic immigrants and their children. Pastor Cesar Sifuentes, originally from Guatemala, leads a small Spanish-speaking congregation. Before the COVID pandemic, their food pantry and soup kitchen served hundreds of their neighbors.

St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church

This congregation is the daughter of Immanuel congregation, the second branch church. The German people moving to Chicago settled down, in large part, in the southwestern section of the city, and where lucrative work and inexpensive building sites could be found. The Immanuel congregation soon focused their gaze on this hopeful field and they started a single-classroom school on the corner of Paulina and Hinman St, near 21st Place. They called Teacher W. Ganske for the branch school, who is active still today as a teacher in the St. Matthew congregation.

The first teacher and first pastors at St. Matthew, from a history of their church, published in 1971.

His installation was characteristic of the conditions at that time. Because there was no large meeting space to be found, Pastor Bener mounted a large wagon with the newly called teacher, and he gave the installation address from the same for a large audience. On the following day, teacher Ganske began instruction in God’s name with 45 children. With the speedy growth of the population, the school also grew very quickly. In September 1871, the Immanuel congregation released 30 voting members, who are now near the “Lime Kiln,” to found a new congregation, namely the Evangelical Lutheran St. Matthew Congregation.

The beginning was modest, but the further development was under God’s direction and blessing. In the year 1871, the young congregation bought eight plots (lots) on Hoyne Ave and 21st St. On the 21st of June, 1872, the cornerstone of the new church was placed, and this was already dedicated on the first of December in the same year. The tower of the same was 180 feet high; a beautiful bell was later procured. Until the organization, the Pastors Bener and Wagner had preached on evenings during the week at the schoolhouse. In the year 1872, the congregation called Pastor Martin Günther as their pastor. But the same served the congregation for only one year. Then he followed a call to the theological Concordia-Seminary in St. Louis, MO.*) His successor was (1873) the current pastor of the congregation, H. H. Engelbracht, formerly pastor in Lowden, Iowa.

The large school building across the street from the church.

The school, consisting of four classes, proved to be too small. And the congregation felt it necessary to build a new school house in 1875, which came to stand behind the church. But the congregation so increased as a result of the strong immigration, that they had to move on to a new, expensive undertaking. They bought a school building on a plot facing the church on Hoyne Ave and 21st St, which cost them $12,000. This new school had room for four classes and was dedicated on the 1st of October, 1882. In the following year (1883) a new brick parsonage was purchased for $3,500. So then, the congregation had bought one new school after another, so that the congregational school numbered 10 classes in the year 1887 (Teacher Bock served one of the same on California Ave).

The old school building, facing the church, has been converted into apartments.

Yet the congregation, so richly blessed by God, had to face a difficult trial according to God’s eternally wise council. Namely, the beautiful church, which was built in 1872, became the prey of flames on the 23rd of July 1887.

A careless worker, who was repairing the tower, set the church on fire, and with tearful eyes, the members of the congregation saw their beloved house of God in smoke and flames. Yet the congregation, so harshly afflicted by God, did not allow their courage to diminish. Even though the early loss was very great and severe, it soon became apparent what faith, trust in God, and love of God’s word can do. Truly, the unbelievers rejoiced, and they clearly displayed their hatred of God’s word in their newspapers and their hateful opinions against the congregation. But how their mouths were stuffed! The congregation’s willingness to sacrifice for the reconstruction of the church was so great that in a short time a sum of $15,000 was pledged by the members of the congregation.

The present sanctuary of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church

And look! After that, one celebration followed after another: Cornerstone laying of the new church, building a new school with six classrooms, and finally the church consecration on the 30th of September 1888, an unforgettable day of celebration and thanksgiving! The new house of God was as full of beauty and majesty as the first.With the school, it cost a sum of $60,000. Even more! In the year of the affliction, the St. Mark congregation on California Ave was branched off and despite suffering the loss of their church by fire, their two lots and one building on the same remained untouched.

View from the front of the sanctuary, looking back to their beautiful organ.

In the year 1892, from the 28th of April until the 4th of May, the Illinois District of the Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other states met in the new church. The work of Pastor L. Hölter: “Regarding the duty of the family and the church in the Christian upbringing of the young, so they may be sustained by the word and be saved” from the fourth thesis was discussed.

The situation of the congregation is presently as followers: 421 voting members and 2,700 communicant members, 900 school children, 8 teachers. As associate pastors, Prof. Selle and P. Brauns have served the congregation. Pastor Hermann Engelbrecht, Jr is currently associate pastor.

The present teachers in the school are: W. Treide, Joh. Faitz, W. Ganske, Alb. Wiedemann, C. Appelt, F. Rusch, J. P. Rademacher, E. Kopitke.

*)He had faithfully served the synod for 20 years as professor and employee at Lutheraner.