Final bell tolling for Aurora’s First United Methodist Church
First United Methodist Church in Aurora has been the site of every religious milestone in John Roesch’s life.
It’s where the 76-year-old Aurora man was married and where he watched two children and two grandchildren tie the knot.
It’s where Roesch followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, serving on the church’s board.
And on Sunday, June 26, after a final service and luncheon, it’s where he will watch the 140-year-old church building close its doors.
“The thought of not being able to worship in our current sanctuary is troublesome,” Roesch said. “I’ve been here all my life and I dearly love that church building and that sanctuary. It’s pretty sad when you stop and think about it.”
The church’s 27 members voted earlier this year to close after seeing their congregation’s size shrink from 876 in the early 1960s to barely double digits in this decade.
With so few members attending services at 60 S. Lincoln Ave., just east of downtown Aurora, everyone has multiple responsibilities. Many of the church’s members are in their 80s or older, including one who is 102, Roesch said.
Roesch rings the church’s bell Sunday mornings and serves as an usher. He sometimes lights candles for the altar and he’s first on-call for the church’s security alarm.
The level of work almost was too much in 2006, when former pastor Rev. Martha Lewis resigned. The congregation discussed closing at that time, but decided against it.
“There are so few people, and the work continues, and keeping up the building is very difficult,” Lewis said. “So it’s just become a real burden for the few people who are left.”
The church building was constructed in 1871 — 34 years after the group formed as Aurora’s first religious congregation, John Jaros, executive director of the Aurora Historical Society, said.
As it grew, some members left to form at least two other congregations, including Fourth Street United Methodist Church.
“That’s part of our history that is going to be closing,” said Rev. Deborah Tinsley Taylor, pastor of Fourth Street United Methodist Church. “We have really not been anticipating the closure because it’s such an important and significant part of the history of the United Methodist Church in Aurora.”
The Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church approved closure of the church earlier this month, Roesch said. The conference will take over the building with hopes to use it for another religious purpose.
“Hopefully they will find a congregation that may want to come in and use our building for their services,” Roesch said. “I know that’s our hope and prayer.”
The church’s current pastor, Rev. Roger Zavala, said a 50- to 60-member Hispanic congregation he has been leading may be interested in continuing to meet at the church. But the building’s fate will be up to the conference.
After the church closes, members will make their own decisions about which congregation to join, said Lewis, who continued attending services after she resigned as pastor.
“I think it’ll be a relief but on the other hand, I think it will be a very sad time,” Lewis said. “All of a sudden, we were thinking the other day that we are going to miss our church family. Being a small congregation, we have become very close to each other.”
The church’s last Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m. June 26 and is open to the public.
First United Methodist Church in Aurora was founded with members including Aurora settler Samuel McCarty and holds the title of the citys first church. Its set to close after a final service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 26, but not without several historic moments in its past.
1837: First United Methodist Church forms as the first church in Aurora and begins meeting in Samuel McCartys home, then a schoolhouse in McCarty Park
1843: The congregation builds a church, then adds on to it in 1852 and 1863
1868: 48 members leave to form a church that eventually becomes Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora
1871: First United Methodist Church constructs its current building for $43,000
1891: 40 members leave to form Fourth Street United Methodist Church
1951: High winds cause the fire department to deem the churchs steeple unsafe; the church removes the steeple
Oct. 4, 1953: A fire causes $180,000 in damage; during repairs, the church installs a new organ for $53,000
1959: The church finishes an education building addition for $203,000
February 2011: Members vote to close the church at an annual meeting; archive materials are transferred to the Aurora Historical Society
June 2011: Northern Illinois Conference of the First United Methodist Church approves the churchs closing
June 26, 2011: The church will hold its last Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon for current and former members and guests
Source: First United Methodist Church board