Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake

In 1882, a small group of Episcopalians in the quaint village of Rogers Park felt a stirring. They realized they were the largest religious group in the area. They decided it was time for their own church. This marked the humble beginnings of Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake. Their first service was held in the basement of the Methodist Meeting House. The Right Reverend William E. McLaren, Bishop of the Diocese, led the service, assisted by The Reverend Alfred Louderback. Imagine the scene. A simple basement transformed into a sacred space, filled with the hopes and dreams of a new congregation. Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake officially became a mission. Bishop McLaren appointed Father Louderback as Priest-in-Charge. Services continued in the Methodist Meeting House, costing a mere $2.00 rent per service. Years later, on July 10, 1886, the cornerstone for their own church building was laid on Lunt Avenue near Paulina. Bishop McLaren presided over the ceremony. The land was generously donated by Mr. Charles Morse, and the architect, Mr. Charles Adams, offered his services as a gift. Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake continued to grow and evolve. The Reverend Daniel S. Smith led the congregation until 1889. Then, The Reverend C.E. Brandt became the first resident priest in May 1889. The desire for independence grew. In 1898, a committee was formed to petition for parish status. Their efforts bore fruit in 1903. The Right Reverend Charles P. Anderson granted their request, and The Reverend Gavin Duffy became the first Rector of Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake. The current rectory, one of the oldest houses in Rogers Park, was acquired in 1910. The parish moved to its current location at Ashland and Estes. The Parish house was completed in 1915, followed by the church building in 1925. The debt incurred during construction was finally paid off in 1947 under The Reverend Charles T. Hull. The church was consecrated on November 2, 1947, by The Right Reverend Wallace E. Conkling, Bishop of Chicago. In April 1982, Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake celebrated its centennial with a Festival Mass. The Right Reverend James W. Montgomery, the ninth Bishop of Chicago and a son of the parish, led the celebration. A joyous luncheon at the Rogers Park Woman’s Club followed the service. The Reverend Daniel L. Banner served as rector for over two decades, from 1970 to 1992. He shepherded the congregation through a significant period of its history. In 1993, The Reverend John H. Heschlè became the seventh rector of Saint Paul’s. He served faithfully for 26 years until his retirement in 2019. The current rector, The Reverend Trey Garland, arrived in late 2021. He brings his passion for liturgy and its mysteries to Saint Paul’s Church by the Lake, enriching the spiritual lives of the parishioners.