Going Gothic: Hampshire congregation plans new sanctuary

In planning for a new place of worship, the parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church are not afraid to look back as they also look forward.

The 131-year-old Hampshire congregation broke ground last month for a new sanctuary on a 25-acre piece of land on Getzelman Road. Construction won't begin for at least a couple of years, said Father Joe Nicolosi, but that gives plenty of time to work out what the building will look like.

One thing his people have decided for sure, he said. Their new church will have American Gothic architecture; they don't want a contemporary look.

"Traditionally, the images that you see in a church are there to remind you that you're joining the worship of heaven during the Mass," Nicolosi said. "Your worship is connected to angels and saints," based on John's vision of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation.

He said the church will spend the next two years working out what elements will best represent the heavenly city, but he expects the altar, tabernacle and cross to be more prominent in the new sanctuary than in some contemporary churches.

But if they don't make 'em like they used to - ornate Catholic churches, that is - it's partly because all that ornamentation costs a pretty penny. To that end, St. Charles has embarked on a fundraising adventure, titled "Continuing Our Sacred Tradition," to raise $8 million.

More than half has already been pledged, representing two-and-a-half times what church members usually give annually.

"We got a very positive response from people who were willing to sacrifice for their kids and for other people who haven't moved here yet," Nicolosi said.

Parishioners initiated the building project a few years back when Hampshire growth looked promising.

"We first decided to do this at a time when the parish was really growing and the town was in a position to almost double in size with the different developments that were planned," said Jeanie Mayer, parish communications coordinator.

"Now, with the slowdown in construction, many of the homes are not moving as they were," she said.

Still, when the economy looks up, housing developments are expected to follow, and the congregation looks forward to a day when its 350-seat sanctuary will be have to be replaced by accommodations for 900.

In the meanwhile, there's time to raise nearly $4 million more and dream up a design for a new - or is that old?-parish building.

Cary church turns 50: It's party time at Cary Grove Evangelical Free Church, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month with a banquet at a sister church.

On Oct. 24, the membership will gather for a fancy catered dinner and a program looking back on the past 50 years.

Event coordinator Christy Anderson said songs, clothing styles and worship styles from each of the last five decades will be represented in a skit, and there will likely be a slide show of ministry highlights.

Former pastors and other staff members have been invited to return for a congregational reunion, Anderson said, and some who can't make it will send messages by video feed or Skype.

The current pastor, Dr. Donald Erickson, is observing a milestone of his own. He's been at the church for half of those 50 years, making his a silver anniversary.

That's a lot to celebrate, but Cary Grove E. Free doesn't have a lot of extra space. All festivities will be moved to Village Church of Barrington, which can accommodate a larger crowd. The Cary church expects to break ground yet this month for its own new multipurpose facility, to be followed later by a new sanctuary.

As the pastor's daughter, Anderson has a long history with Cary Grove, having largely grown up there.

"The Jubilation Celebration has been exciting for me personally," she said, "because it is a reminder of God's faithfulness over the past 50 years, yet comes with great anticipation of what is still to come.

"We are on the brink of a new building project that will allow us to be more effective in our ministries to Cary and the surrounding areas," Anderson said.

"We are celebrating His (God's) story that has already been written and looking ahead to what chapters are still to come."

The praising and partying will carry over to Sunday services at 8 and 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 25. The church is at 525 W. Ada St. in Cary.

Luther visits Elgin: While Cary Grove is celebrating a birthday, Lutheran denominations observe that same day as Reformation Sunday. And the hero of the Reformation, the 16th Century monk who upended Europe with his 95 theses, will show up in Elgin again this year, thanks to the thespian talents of the Rev. Hannibal Friederich.

Friederich has been impersonating Dr. Martin Luther for more than 30 years and knows his subject well.

"I'll be doing a table talk," Friederich said. "I choose from a variety of his lectures and sermons and put it all together from that."

Luther comes to the pulpit during 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services at St. John's Lutheran Church in Elgin, as well as on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 5:30 p.m. The special services are part of the annual Lutherfest celebration at St. John's, 101 N. Spring St., which runs this year from Oct. 24 to Nov. 14.

• "In the Spirit" covers churches and synagogues in the Fox Valley area; contact cmchojnacki@yahoo.com to submit information or ideas for upcoming columns. Please submit items for November's column by Oct. 21.