Imagine, if you will a group of Episcopalian families gathering in 1886. They met in the Guild Hall at Bryn Mawr and Winthrop Avenues. This was the first commercial building in Edgewater. They decided a church should be built. This marked the humble beginnings of what we now know as the Episcopal Church of the Atonement and Parish House.
This historic church building stands at 5751 North Kenmore Avenue. It is a testament to faith. It is also a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture. The Atonement Evangelical Lutheran Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
In November 1888, the group became a mission congregation. They chose the name Church of the Atonement. The original cornerstone was laid on November 30, 1889. The location was the intersection of Kenmore and Ardmore Avenues. It was consecrated in June 1890. Frederick W. Keator, a lawyer turned minister, led the congregation. He served as the first priest-in-charge.
By May 1898, the Mission became a self-supporting Parish. It boasted 120 members. Construction of the Parish House began south of the church. The Parish House was completed in 1901.
By the early 20th century, the parish became a leading Anglo-Catholic one. Under Rector Charles E. Deuel, the original church building doubled in capacity. By then the parish had more than 500 members. British born parishioner J.E.O. Pridmore oversaw this expansion. He maintained the English Gothic style.
The first service after the expansion was on Easter in 1920. The parish then had 650 members. Rector Frederick Fleming represented the Diocese of Chicago at Anglo-Catholic conferences. A new Parish House was started in 1922. It was completed in 1924. Stained glass windows were added starting in 1929. They were finished in 1946.
Under Rector Dean Paxton Rice, the church received an Elizabethan era paneled room. This was installed in the Parish House. The church expanded its outreach. It established St. Augustine’s Mission to the Native American community. In the 1970s, a ministry to Spanish speaking neighbors began.
Henry Ives Cobb designed the original church building. He included a stone tower. The east wall was made of wood for future expansion. Cobb was known for his English Gothic and Richardson Romanesque buildings.
Pridmore’s expansion created the current church. The roof was raised and extended 16 feet. Side aisles were added. The stained glass windows are a highlight. The Christ the King window in the North Chapel is particularly notable.
The Elizabethan Room is on the second level of the Parish House. It came from England in 1620. The paneling is registered with The Art Institute of Chicago. It is the only authentic example of its kind in the Midwest.
The Church of the Atonement has seen many leaders. Frederic William Keator served from 1888 to 1896. J. M. D. Davidson followed from 1896 to 1903. Charles E. Deuel led from 1903 to 1914. Frederic Sydney Fleming served from 1915 to 1927. Alfred Newbery was rector from 1927 to 1937. Dean Paxton Rice held the position for an impressive 45 years from 1958 to 2003.
Today, the Church of the Atonement continues its mission. It is under the leadership of Reverend Charles Everson. He was instituted as Rector in October 2023. The Atonement Evangelical Lutheran Church stands as a beacon of faith. It is a testament to community. Its rich history echoes through its walls. Its beautiful architecture inspires all who enter. It is a true Chicago treasure.