Elk Grove Presbyterian Church

Sixty years of echoes. That’s what I hear standing before Elk Grove Presbyterian Church. Echoes of hymns, laughter, and quiet prayers. Elk Grove Presbyterian Church held its first service six decades ago. The church became a cornerstone of this community. Now, it stands silent. Pastor Barbara Gorsky, the church’s last pastor, described the closing as a death. A painful, but necessary end. The congregation, once vibrant, dwindled to a small group of 25 to 30 regular attendees. Forty-five members remained on the books. This small number could no longer support a full-time pastor and staff. The Session of Elders, the church’s governing body, wrestled with the decision for months. In July, they began exploring options. By the fall, closing seemed the only path forward. Elk Grove Presbyterian Church held its final service on June 4, 2024. The grief of the long-time members is palpable. Some had called this church home for nearly 45 years. The future is uncertain for the congregation. Many plan to join nearby Presbyterian churches in Itasca and Arlington Heights. Others will find solace at Christus Victor Lutheran Church right here in Elk Grove Village. Some may step away from organized religion altogether. But even in this time of loss, there is new life. Elk Grove Presbyterian Church ran the Elk Grove Village Food Pantry for 30 years. They also operated a clothing closet. These vital ministries will continue. The food pantry will move to Christus Victor Lutheran Church. Volunteers from the Presbyterian congregation will continue to staff it. The clothing closet will find a new home at Hanover Park Presbyterian Church. The church building itself, located at the corner of Elk Grove Boulevard and Tonne Road, belongs to The Presbytery of Chicago. This organization oversees 80 churches in the area. Each church operates independently. The Presbytery will likely sell the building. The village has already purchased it for $965,000. Plans are underway to demolish the structure and build new homes. The church’s legacy, however, will live on. Not in bricks and mortar, but in the lives touched, the community served, and the spirit of faith that once filled these walls.