About Us

Download the PDF Here!

Church History

Calvary Memorial Church is:

A place that is warm and inviting-allowing visitors to feel comfortable and welcome.

A place where leadership is genuinely interested in you-not just your wallet

A place where you will hear insightful and relevant Bible messages-helping you deal with the issues of life

A place that offers both traditional and contemporary music-allowing you to experience worship that is varied and enriching

A place where you can entrust your children to a competent and caring staff-giving each child personal attention and encouragement

A place where people are friendly and sincere-making you feel like part of the family

A place that provides a variety of options for education and personal growth-helping you develop your relationship with the God who loves you

Our Beginnings

Many years ago a small group of men and women started a church in Oak Park. Their aim was simple: to establish an independent church which would be built upon the sound teaching of the Bible. From the beginning, they wanted a church which would be evangelistic and missions-minded. And they wanted a church which would draw people from all walks of life and from many different denominational backgrounds.

Nearly a century has passed since then. It's a different world now and Oak Park is, in many respects, a different place. The founders of this church would hardly recognize it. Back then the church had a different name and a different location. In the beginning there were perhaps 30 people; today there are nearly 1200 in our church. Back then, the church was started with $100; the budget has grown to over a million dollars. But attendance records and dollars do not tell the whole story. The tradition handed down from the founders remains with us today. We are still an independent, evangelical church committed to the clear teaching of the Word of God. We still believe what the founders believed. And although our methods may have changed, we are still firmly committed to reaching those who need to experience a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ by every means possible.

One thing which has NOT changed is the faithfulness of God. Psalm 145:4 says, "One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts." If the founders could return today, they would be amazed at what God has done, but not amazed that He has done it. We praise him for his faithfulness then and now, and in the years to come.

Calvary's Historical Roots

When the Madison Street Church was established in 1915, the people who comprised the congregation met in a rented store building at 944 Madison Street. Drawn primarily from five local churches of different denominations, doctrinal considerations figured largely in the formation of the new church organization. The framers of the church constitution and statement of faith worked to create a church that would be independent of any denominational ties and faithful to the cardinal doctrines of scripture.

Although its doctrine is essentially Baptist in character, and its form of government Congregational, the church has labored to maintain a flexibility in doctrine and practice that has enabled people of diverse denominational backgrounds to worship together.An institution must change or it will die. Numerous changes have been made to the church that began in 1915. The name has changed from Madison Street Church in 1915 to Madison Street Bible Church in 1937 to Calvary Memorial Church in 1959. The original church building was located at the corner of Madison and Wisconsin streets. In 1939 an annex was added. In 1954 an educational unit was built, followed by a Fellowship Hall, classrooms and nurseries in 1962. In 1968 a remodeling of the sanctuary resulted in a multipurpose building that was used to minister to Bible school children, boys' and girls' club programs, teenagers and adults.

Calvary thought it had seen its last building project until the fire of 1977 that destroyed two-thirds of the building complex. After two years of renting facilities and negotiations, our current home, the building at 931 Lake Street, was purchased and dedicated to God on November 4, 1979. Dr. Billy Graham was the guest speaker. In this location, Calvary now has a more visible presence in the community. With more than twice the building size, an even broader scope of ministry has become possible, allowing for the growth of Christian education classes for children and adults, as well as other ministries and programs.

But just as budgets and attendance records do not tell the whole story of a church, neither do building projects and name changes. The heart of any church is its people, worshipping and serving God in their community. The programs and events tell the church history in a way that reveals God at work in the lives of his servants. The chronicle of God's faithfulness has been recorded in the hearts of thousands, both here and around the world. To quote the FIRST ANNUAL REPORT of Madison Street Church (March 31, 1916): "It is not the Clerk's purpose in this report to enumerate the blessings that we, as individuals, have received, because that would be impossible for two reasons-First for the lack of time, second, for lack of complete knowledge, because I verily believe we never will be able to fulfill the command of our Blessed Lord to "Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee and hath had compassion on thee."

The language has changed since then, but our God has not. As Calvary Memorial Church remains true to him, it is our prayer that he will continue to bless and use us for the salvation of precious souls, for the growth of mature Christians, and for his honor and glory.

Pastors of Calvary Memorial Church

1915-1917
Dr. Louis Talbot

1917-1920
Rev. J. C. O'Hair

1920-1924
Rev. Lee W. Ames

1924-1926
Rev. James Emblen

1926-1933
Rev. Robert J. Devine

1935-1943
Rev. Arthur H. Fardon

1943-1945
Dr. Wayne E. Buchanan

1945-1951
Rev. Gordon B. Kemble

1952-1958
Rev. John R. Emmans

1958-1974
Rev. Robert O. Gray

1976-1986
Dr. Donald Gerig

1989-2005
Dr. Ray Pritchard

D I D   Y O U   K N O W ?...

...That a former Minister of Music, Mr. John W. Peterson, composed and published more than 300 songs?
...That a community Bible study, started by the members of Calvary, met regularly at the Oak Park YMCA? This study grew until the YMCA could no longer accommodate it. This necessitated the first addition to the church facility on Madison and Wisconsin Avenues.
...That Calvary's present facility at 931 Lake Street was originally built and owned by the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Park? Calvary Memorial Church bought the building from the Presbyterian Church in 1979.
...That on November 4, 1979, world-renowned evangelist, Billy Graham, participated in the dedication service for the church's present facility?
...That the main auditorium was built between 1902 and 1903? And that the balcony was added in 1909? The auditorium has a present seating capacity of approximately 450 people.
...That there is an observatory in the west wing of our present facility?
...That Dr. Ray Pritchard, Calvary's 12th Senior Pastor, received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Talbot School of Theology? Talbot School of Theology received its name from the first pastor of this church, Dr. Louis Talbot.
...That Calvary has its own hymn? It was commissioned for the 75th anniversary celebration in 1980.