First Evangelical Church

Amidst the vibrant tapestry of Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood stands the First Evangelical Church. It has witnessed the city’s evolution since 1880. First Evangelical Church isn’t just a building. It’s a living testament to the enduring power of faith and community. The church’s story begins not in Chicago, but in Sweden, amidst a religious revival in the 1840s. Small groups of Swedish Lutherans, yearning for a deeper connection with Jesus, began meeting in homes. These gatherings emphasized personal faith and a devotion to scripture. These groups questioned established church traditions, asking, “Where does it stand written?”. First Evangelical Church’s founders were part of this movement. In 1880, a group of seventeen Swedish immigrants, meeting for prayer in a house on Chicago’s near north side, decided to hold public services. Their first communion service, held in 1881, drew around 150 people. The congregation, originally known as the Oak Street Svenska Fria Missions Forsamling (Oak Street Swedish Free Missions Congregation), was deeply committed to missionary work. They supported Ellen Modin’s ministry to Mormons in Utah and sent missionaries to China in 1887. This commitment to spreading the Gospel extended to India in 1910 and Africa in 1924. As the congregation grew and its members migrated north, the church established a new location in the Summerdale community (now Andersonville) in 1910. The church at Berwyn and Ashland became their sole focus in 1912. Under Rev. Frank W. Anderson’s leadership (1913-1947), the church saw significant growth. A new sanctuary was built in 1926, and the church transitioned from Swedish to English services. The church continued to expand its facilities, adding a gym in 1948 and a Christian Education wing in 1956. First Evangelical Church remained committed to serving its changing neighborhood. While daughter churches were established in the suburbs, the church held firm to its urban mission. Pastor Arley Bragg (1952-1970) declared in 1961, “We are in this area to stay. This is our field. It is a mission field, and we must not leave it, and we must not fail it.” First Evangelical Church, a beacon of faith and resilience, continues to serve the diverse Andersonville community. It carries forward its legacy of celebrating God’s presence, nurturing spiritual growth, and reaching out to the world.