Barrington church earns state recognition for 150+ service

The Illinois State Historical Society has recognized Barrington United Methodist Church as a sesquicentennial house of worship.

Churches that have served their congregations continuously for at least 150 years are eligible for the recognition. That means the Barrington church's history will be recorded by the state historical society and the Illinois State Library.

The church is on 24 acres at Route 59 and Algonquin Road in Barrington Hills.

The church was founded in 1840, with the congregation first meeting in homes and then in a stone building at the corner of Bateman and Algonquin Roads, according to the Barrington Area Library.

The first church building was built in 1853 in Barrington Hills. As the congregation grew over the years, subsequently larger buildings were needed.

The fourth church building at 310 Hough St. in Barrington was dedicated in 1931. That building was destroyed by a fire in 1998.

The congregation worshipped in the Salem United Methodist Church of Barrington and in the auditorium of Barrington Area Unit District 220 until the current church building was built and dedicated in 2003.