First Presbyterian Church of DuPage, Historical Sketch

First Presbyterian Church of DuPage
Bolingbrook, Illinois

Historical Sketch

In mid-summer of 1833, a small group of early settlers of what is now DuPage Township in northern Will County, organized the DuPage Presbyterian Church. The church had its beginning in a small hickory log schoolhouse built in the fall of 1832 just south of what is now Royce Road near the Barkdoll intersection, on the grounds of the DuPage River Park.

The Rev. N. C. Clark arrived in the community in the spring of 1833 and assisted in organizing the new church. On Saturday, July 13, 1833, a preliminary meeting was held at the schoolhouse. Rev. Clark, along with the Rev. Jeremiah Porter of Chicago and the Rev. C.W. Rabbit of Tazewell County, examined the credentials of the applicants for membership. Articles of faith and covenant were adopted, and Isaac Clark, Pomroy Goodrich, and Leister Peet were elected to the office of Ruling Elder.

The "Church at DuPage" was the second church of any denomination to be formed in all of what was Cook County at the time. It included about all of what is regarded as the current Cook and "collar counties": Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Will and the northern half of Kankakee County. The "Old Hickory School" became the first Public School in the then Cook County

First worship of the Chruch at DuPage July 13, 1833 at the Old Hickory school house located near the East branch of the DuPage River south of Royce Road near Barkdol Rd.

People from all the nearby settlements came together the following day, July 14, 1833, to worship at the new church. The multitude of people so overcrowded the little schoolhouse that the service was moved outdoors to a grove of oak and hickory trees. Of that occasion, Rev. Jeremiah Porter wrote, "It was a cheering scene. Few had dared to expect such a scene at this early period in the settlement of our frontier." It was also reported that "near by a group of Indians who look[ed] on with wondering gaze, [stood] watching in silence the worship of their white brothers." After the services, the church was declared duly organized; the oldest church in the area now covered by Will County from the standpoint of years being organized.

Early on, the congregation held its services in schoolhouses, groves, and members' houses. When, in 1839, the church left the old community and continued its labors in the village of Naperville, as the First Congregational Church, services were held in the courthouse there.

However, the need for a place of worship at the old site became more and more apparent. The settlers could attend the services at Naperville only at great inconvenience. Also, a goodly number preferred the Presbyterian form of government. The reorganization of the First Presbyterian Church of DuPage was effected on March 9, 1844, when several persons, members of the First Congregational Church of Naperville and of other churches, met at the new DuPage schoolhouse and presented their credentials to the Rev. Romulus Barnes and the Rev. Orange Lyman. Shortly thereafter, on October 12, 1847, the Presbytery of Chicago was organized at the DuPage church and held its first meeting there.

First Presbyterian Chruch of DuPage in 1875, after a 20 foot addtion to the rear of the 1853 structue and the addtion of the steple.

Soon plans began for the erection of a church building; the completed structure was dedicated on February 24, 1853. The land on which the church was built was leased to the trustees of the DuPage Church by Reuben W. Smith for the rental of one peppercorn per annum. This same site was purchased and a parsonage constructed. In 1874, a group from the church formed the "DuPage Y.M.C.A." It was, we are told, the first non-urban Y.M.C.A. formed in the United States.

First Presbyterian Church of DuPage after addtion of 1909 sanctuary

In 1908/09 a new sanctuary was added to the original structure (on the far side of the picture) for a cost of just over $10,000. It was regarded as a fine example of open prairie church architecture and was featured in a number of magazines. The church was the center of social and religious activity for many decades. There were men and women's swimming and sports teams, choirs, and band and drama groups. A very strong Sunday School and Women's Missionary Society helped keep the focus on the true work of the church: sharing the good news Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Savior of all who accept him as such.

First Presbyterian Church of DuPage after 1967 renovation.

In 1976-77 a front foyer was added that gave the church the appearance that the residents of the newly developing Village of Bolingbrook remember. From just after the founding of the Village though his retirement in 1997, the skillful pastorship of the Rev. Larry McCullough guided the church to successfully transition from a rural farm-family church caring for a few long standing families into an urban church serving a much more transient and diverse population. The "old roots" have provided the "family friendly" and caring characteristics that the church is noted for while incorporating the enthusiasm and vigor that the urban lifestyle brings to new and exciting ministry opportunities.

The present church building was built in 2004. Our initial worship was held on January 9, 2005. This building was provided thought a bequest from the estate of Frances Mable Paterson, church Sunday School secretary for some 62 years, and her brother, Warren (Bud). The new building is some six times the size of the previous building and incorporates many of the elements of old building.

First Presbtyerain Church of DuPage 2005

New 25,300 s.f. Facility.
For interior pictures by the builder, click here.
For interior pictures of the restored stain glass windows, click here

The church's most recent Pastor, the Rev. Mark Hughey, came to DuPage in February, 2005. The current church membership is 156, with an average Sunday Worship attendance of 135. The rapid growth of the community in recent years, to the very doorstep or the DuPage Church, has given an unparalleled opportunity to the congregation to minister to the new residents. The future of the DuPage Church will be determined by how successfully this task is accomplished.

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First Presbyterian Church of DuPage Bolingbrook, Illinois Historical Sketch
In mid-summer of 1833, a small group of early settlers of what is now DuPage Township in northern Will County, organized the DuPage Presbyterian Church. The church had its beginning in a small hickory log schoolhouse built in the fall of 1832 just south of what is now Royce Road near the Barkdoll intersection, on the grounds of the DuPage River Park. The Rev. N. C. Clark arrived in the community in the spring of 1833 and assisted in organizing the new church. On Saturday, July 13, 1833, a preliminary meeting was held at the schoolhouse. Rev. Clark, along with the Rev. Jeremiah Porter of Chicago and the Rev. C.W. Rabbit of Tazewell County, examined the credentials of the applicants for membership. Articles of faith and covenant were adopted, and Isaac Clark, Pomroy Goodrich, and Leister Peet were elected to the office of Ruling Elder. The "Church at DuPage" was the second church of any denomination to be formed in all of what was Cook County at the time. It included about all of what is regarded as the current Cook and "collar counties": Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Will and the northern half of Kankakee County. The "Old Hickory School" became the first Public School in the then Cook County
	People from all the nearby settlements came together the following day, July 14, 1833, to worship at the new church. The multitude of people so overcrowded the little schoolhouse that the service was moved outdoors to a grove of oak and hickory trees. Of that occasion, Rev. Jeremiah Porter wrote, "It was a cheering scene. Few had dared to expect such a scene at this early period in the settlement of our frontier." It was also reported that "near by a group of Indians who look[ed] on with wondering gaze, [stood] watching in silence the worship of their white brothers." After the services, the church was declared duly organized; the oldest church in the area now covered by Will County from the standpoint of years being organized.
Early on, the congregation held its services in schoolhouses, groves, and members' houses. When, in 1839, the church left the old community and continued its labors in the village of Naperville, as the First Congregational Church, services were held in the courthouse there. However, the need for a place of worship at the old site became more and more apparent. The settlers could attend the services at Naperville only at great inconvenience. Also, a goodly number preferred the Presbyterian form of government. The reorganization of the First Presbyterian Church of DuPage was effected on March 9, 1844, when several persons, members of the First Congregational Church of Naperville and of other churches, met at the new DuPage schoolhouse and presented their credentials to the Rev. Romulus Barnes and the Rev. Orange Lyman. Shortly thereafter, on October 12, 1847, the Presbytery of Chicago was organized at the DuPage church and held its first meeting there.
	Soon plans began for the erection of a church building; the completed structure was dedicated on February 24, 1853. The land on which the church was built was leased to the trustees of the DuPage Church by Reuben W. Smith for the rental of one peppercorn per annum. This same site was purchased and a parsonage constructed. In 1874, a group from the church formed the "DuPage Y.M.C.A." It was, we are told, the first non-urban Y.M.C.A. formed in the United States.
	In 1908/09 a new sanctuary was added to the original structure (on the far side of the picture) for a cost of just over $10,000. It was regarded as a fine example of open prairie church architecture and was featured in a number of magazines. The church was the center of social and religious activity for many decades. There were men and women's swimming and sports teams, choirs, and band and drama groups. A very strong Sunday School and Women's Missionary Society helped keep the focus on the true work of the church: sharing the good news Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Savior of all who accept him as such.
	In 1976-77 a front foyer was added that gave the church the appearance that the residents of the newly developing Village of Bolingbrook remember. From just after the founding of the Village though his retirement in 1997, the skillful pastorship of the Rev. Larry McCullough guided the church to successfully transition from a rural farm-family church caring for a few long standing families into an urban church serving a much more transient and diverse population. The "old roots" have provided the "family friendly" and caring characteristics that the church is noted for while incorporating the enthusiasm and vigor that the urban lifestyle brings to new and exciting ministry opportunities.
The present church building was built in 2004. Our initial worship was held on January 9, 2005. This building was provided thought a bequest from the estate of Frances Mable Paterson, church Sunday School secretary for some 62 years, and her brother, Warren (Bud). The new building is some six times the size of the previous building and incorporates many of the elements of old building.	New 25,300 s.f. Facility. For interior pictures by the builder, click here. For interior pictures of the restored stain glass windows, click here
The church's most recent Pastor, the Rev. Mark Hughey, came to DuPage in February, 2005. The current church membership is 156, with an average Sunday Worship attendance of 135. The rapid growth of the community in recent years, to the very doorstep or the DuPage Church, has given an unparalleled opportunity to the congregation to minister to the new residents. The future of the DuPage Church will be determined by how successfully this task is accomplished.