Our History
Same Building,
Different Church
1886
God was preparing the current building before Calvary even started.
W. G. Williamson designed the building in a Romanesque style, popularized by H. H. Richardson in 1873. It was modeled after Trinity Church in Boston and completed at the cost of $60,000. The interior was designed by Louis Millet of Healy and Millet, the design firm responsible for the interior of Adler and Sullivan’s Auditorium Building and the trading room of the Chicago Stock Exchange.
Characteristics of Romanesque Style
Heavy Arches and Rough Stone
Heavy Indiana Gray Limestone Arches contrast with the variegated, rough Wisconsin Granite of the exterior walls.
Round-Headed Arches
Often springing from clusters of short squat columns that frame recessed entrances.
Cylindrical Towers
Conical caps embedded in the walling.
Clay Roof
Durable roof that has been traced back as far as 3000 B.C. in China and The Middle East.
Large Tower
A smaller version of Trinity Church’s oversized main tower.
Madison Street Church
March 21, 1915—A group of families met together to discuss “the feasibility of a new non-denominational church.”
The group included Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Lutherans. They held their first worship service and established Madison Street Church. The church met in a rented store building and started with less than $100, which they used to purchase chairs and hymnals. Sunday morning services were reserved for worship and instruction; Sunday evening services were for “the ministry of the gospel.”
At their fourth meeting, church organizers voted unanimously to extend a call to Dr. Talbot to become their pastor.
Early Growth
1916—Starting with 21 people, the church grew to 47.
“It might be well for us on this occasion to consider how great things the Lord hath done for us…we should be able to praise God of the way in which He has experimentally blessed us.” —First Annual Report
A Flourishing Community
1920s & 1930s—Oak Park developed from just under 10,000 residents in 1900 to 40,000 residents in 1920.
By 1930, the village contained 64,000 residents, more than the population today.
Sending Our First Missionaries
1919—A mere five years after the church began, Madison Street Church had four missionaries.
On November 12, 1920, the church officers licensed Frederick Ernest Holland as a minister, “our missionary in British East Africa.”
The Spark
1922—In a strange act of foreshadowing, Madison Street Church suffered an arson attempt in 1922.
In response to the incident: “The work of the church is to preach the gospel and teach the Bible, that people may be saved from sin and built up in faith.” —Interview with the Oak Leaves
Calvary Memorial Church
1959—Madison Street Bible Church changed its name to Calvary Memorial Church.
A Community & Church Tested
1977—Turmoil in Oak Park
“The village board created a Community Relations Commission charged with preventing discrimination, forestalling violent neighborhood defense mechanisms, and setting a high standard of behavior as the community prepared for imminent racial change.
In 1968, after lengthy and angry debate, and the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act, the village board passed an open-housing ordinance allowing officials to control many aspects of racial integration that otherwise were likely to lead to resegregation. Real-estate agents were banned from panic-peddling, blockbusting, and the use for ‘for sale’ signs.”
The Fire
In 1977 a fire destroyed two-thirds of the former building. After two years of renting facilities and negotiations, Calvary purchased the current building at 931 Lake Street from First Presbyterian Church of Oak Park. Dr. Billy Graham was the commencement speaker.
Rev. Gerig was a strong proponent of a debt payment campaign in the 1980’s, “We feel privileged to have been placed in this key location on Lake Street so that we may have a positive ministry for Jesus Christ in the Oak Park area.”
A New Era
1989—Dr. Ray Pritchard was called to become the Senior Pastor and preached his first sermon on August 20, with his installation service on September 17, 1989.
He received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Talbot School of Theology which was established by the founding pastor, Dr. Louis Talbot.
“Growth in the church related to an outreach focus and to a belief that the Bible can speak to a modern man.”
“I have found the people of Oak Park and the congregation to be the warmest people I have ever met. Oak Park is vibrant, dynamic and stimulating.”
—Ray Pritchard, Interview with The Wednesday Journal
Looking Back, Pressing Forward
2008—Calvary extended an invitation to Todd Wilson to become the Senior Pastor in August of 2008.
Unify to Glory
2012—Two distinct service styles became one so that we would come closer to glorifying God "with one mind and one voice” (Romans 15:6).
Read the Wednesday Journal’s impression of our church-wide worship initiative, Unify to Glorify, at the link below.
Celebrating 100 Years
2015—We celebrated 100 years of ministry on March 21, 2015. We also aspire, by God’s grace, to be a blessing to Oak Park for another 100 years.
Reconnecting with Oak Park
2016—After School at 931
We have taken an exciting turn to more closely reflect the diversity, beauty, and complexity of Oak Park within our high school ministry. The after-school program and basketball team were big efforts toward meeting the spiritual and tangible needs of high school students in Oak Park. 931 Basketball is still run today by an alum of the team…
