Oldest church in South Elgin to celebrate 125th

If you've always wanted to ring the bell of the oldest church in South Elgin, you'll get your chance at the 125th anniversary celebration Sunday.

The congregation of South Elgin Community United Methodist Church, 400 W. Spring St., is "going all out" for the open house from 1 to 4 p.m., Pastor Jan Comerford said.

There will be free ice cream and tours of the church showcasing its fellowship hall, full-sized gymnasium and multiple small meeting rooms. People will see one of the original pews donated in 1892 by the Elgin State Hospital - now the Elgin Mental Health Center - which was redecorating at the time.

Village President Steve Ward, Kane County Board member Mike Kenyon and Elgin Township Supervisor Franklin Ramirez will give remarks. Participants will include Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Dragon Kido Martial Arts and Jazzercise South Elgin, all of whom use the church's gymnasium for their activities, Comerford said.

And yes, anyone who wants to ring the bell will get to do so, she said.

The church was established in 1892, although a fire burned to the ground its original building two blocks away in 1949. The congregation rebuilt the church within two years.

Elgin resident Rob Bueche, 87, was baptized at the church and has attended services there all his life.

"It seems like there is things going on all the time," he said. "We've had real good pastors and it's easy to find us. I think it's a good combination."

Sunday services nowadays are attended by 50 to 60 people "with more white heads than any other head colors," Comerford said. It's not easy to attract younger families - for whom Sunday mornings often are the only time to relax - without a big, modern building, and drums and guitars during services, Comerford said.

The congregation is committed to helping worthy causes, she said. The church has given thousands of dollars to buy books and balls for school programs, and send kids to church camp, and runs a food pantry twice a month, she said.

"It is one of the most welcoming and most loving congregations I've ever served," Comerford said.