Saint Andrews Missionary Baptist Church

A beacon of faith in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood, Saint Andrews Missionary Baptist Church has a rich history interwoven with the community’s growth. Saint Andrews Missionary Baptist Church’s story began not as a Baptist church, but as a Lutheran offshoot. In May 1883, Pastor Louis Lochner of First Trinity Lutheran Church saw the need for a school in the area. A small schoolhouse opened at 36th and Wood, quickly growing beyond its initial 35 students. The community’s desire for its own church led to the official establishment of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church on March 5, 1888, with Rev. W.C. Kohn as its first pastor. The cornerstone for the current church building at 37th and Honore was laid in 1891, encapsulating a time capsule of the church’s early history, including a hymnal, school texts, the church constitution, a membership list, and local newspapers. The new church was dedicated on January 24, 1892. In 1920, Saint Andrew Lutheran Church expanded its reach with the establishment of a Sunday school, continuing its service to the present day. The growing congregation necessitated a new school building across the street, dedicated in 1930. This building housed eleven classrooms, a gymnasium with a stage, and a fellowship hall. The church’s interior was renovated in 1963, modernizing its features with a new altar, the striking “Christus Rex” cross, and updated lighting. A significant shift occurred in 1973 when Saint Andrew Lutheran Church left the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod due to doctrinal differences. After a brief period of independence, the church joined the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The church’s centennial celebration in 1992 brought further renovations, refreshing the interior with new paint, a lectern, a pulpit, and carpeting. Despite over 125 years of service, Saint Andrew Lutheran School closed its doors in 2014 due to declining enrollment. The former parsonage was then transformed into a Ministry Center, becoming the new home for the Sunday school. Saint Andrew Lutheran Church’s journey took another turn, transitioning to Saint Andrews Missionary Baptist Church. Although much has changed over the years, the core mission remains: to know Jesus, grow in faith with Jesus, and share Jesus with others.