Once upon a time, two Lutheran churches stood on the same street. Simon Peter Lutheran Church might sound like just one church, but its history tells a tale of two congregations. The Simon Peter Lutheran Church we’re standing in front of today is the result of a merger in 1965 between St. Simon’s and St. Peter Lutheran Church.
St. Simon’s, founded in 1889, served the German-speaking community, while St. Peter’s catered to English speakers. Imagine the hymns in German and English echoing through the streets in the early 20th century! The beautiful church building we see today was actually built in 1899 for St. Simon’s congregation. Interestingly, despite merging and becoming Simon Peter Lutheran Church in 1965, the congregation ultimately disbanded in 1991, with members joining the Wicker Park Lutheran Church. The building was then sold to the Salvation and Deliverance Full Gospel Church.
However, this isn’t where the story ends. A fire in 2018 tragically damaged the steeple of the former Simon Peter Lutheran Church. Though the church building no longer serves its original purpose, its legacy as a testament to the city’s German-Lutheran heritage, and the story of two congregations uniting, continues to resonate. It reminds us that faith communities, like cities, are constantly evolving, adapting, and leaving behind fascinating stories etched in stone and stained glass.