Treasures of the Tri-Cities tour focuses on churches

A tour of religious architecture and history on Saturday, Oct. 3, will give Tri-Cities residents a shot to learn more about the roots of the local faiths.

Ironically, the church with perhaps the most history is the youngest of the six structures on the tour. The cornerstone of the Trinity Vineyard Church in St. Charles reads 1905. But Vineyard branch of the Christian faith only got its start in 1974, out in Los Angeles. The 1905 building was erected by Lutherans in a European, Medieval style. And those original Lutheran congregation came to the area as early as 1880.

Liz Safanda, executive director of the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley, which organized the church tour, said the Lutherans offered services in Swedish as recently as the 1950s in the church.

"It has an interesting history with two different faiths using the church," Safanda said "It's sort of a double church."

The Trinity Vineyard Church is only one of six churches with more than a century of history in them on the tour. The other churches are:

• Congregational Church of Batavia (1856)

• United Methodist Church of Batavia (1887)

• Unitarian Universalist Church of Geneva (1843)

• Disciples of Christ Meeting House in Geneva (1857)

• St. Mark's Church in Geneva (1868)

With those timelines, four of the six buildings date back to some of the earliest years of the communities they now stand in. Because of that, the churchs date back to the roots of faith for many of the local residents and their families, Safanda said. Like the Lutherans, in many cases the congregations met without an official church structure, sometimes even in log cabins, for decades before scrimping together enough money to construct a permanent house of worship.

Only one of the six buildings on the tour is no longer used as a church. That's the Disciples of Christ Meeting House in Geneva, which is now a private home. Safanda said, from the inside, it's easy to discern the original intention of the building.

"It has a clear church space when you first enter inside," Safanda said.

The Disciples of Christ is possibly best known for counting former President Ronald Reagan as a member. Reagan married his wife, Nancy, in a Disciples Church in California. More infamously, the Jim Jones-founded Jonestown compound in California was affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. Neither Reagan, nor Jones, were affiliated with the Geneva house of worship.

The tour runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. Tickets cost $20. Those attending the tour can begin at any of the six churches. People who purchase tickets will receive information about parking arrangements. The tour of each church will last about 30 minutes apiece and include both the interior and exterior of the buildings.

For information, or to purchase tickets, visit ppfv.org, call (630) 377-6424 or visit the Scentimental Gardens in Geneva or Blue Goose Market in St. Charles.

If you go

What: "Steeple Chase: On the Trail of Historic Churches," the eighth annual Treasures of the Tri-Cities tour, featuring six churches

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

Where:

• Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave.

• United Methodist Church of Batavia, 8 N. Batavia Ave.

• Unitarian Universalist Church of Geneva, 102 S. Second St.

• Disciples of Christ Meeting House in Geneva, 402 Campbell St.

• St. Mark's Church in Geneva, 320 Franklin St.

• Trinity Vineyard Church in St. Charles, 12 S. 7th Ave.

Tickets: $20

Details: For information or to purchase tickets, visit <a href="http://ppfv.org">ppfv.org</a>, call: (630) 377-6424 or visit the Scentimental Gardens in Geneva or Blue Goose Market in St. Charles