Submitted Content

Tour of Batavia churches to offer a walk through history

Posted August 30, 2018 11:00 pm

Submitted by Batavia Park District

Calvary Episcopal Church, first started in Batavia in 1842, built its second church building in local limestone at a cost of $12,000, after its first building was destroyed by a tornado. Courtesy of Calvary Episcopal Church

Churches in downtown Batavia will open their doors for visitors to take a walk through history Sunday, Sept. 9.

The participating churches are all historic places and represent many firsts for the community as well as their denominations.

While each church is proud of its individual history and historical buildings, the goal of the tour is to highlight the beautiful, architecturally significant interiors and the impact these institutions have had on the Batavia community for more than 150 years.

The participating churches are Bethany Lutheran Church, Batavia United Methodist Church, Calvary Episcopal and Congregational Church of Batavia.

The Historic Church Walk is organized this year as a benefit for the Depot Museum Expansion Project and in conjunction with the Depot Museum's "Gather and Praise: A History of Batavia Churches" exhibit. This special exhibit opened July 25.

The tour is self-guided and both maps and tickets at $15 each can be picked up at any of the participating churches before Sept. 9.

The tour maps also will be available on the day of the tour or at the Depot Museum during open hours.

The tour times are 1 to 4 p.m. Docents will be present at each church to point out historic features.

See the tour guide for specific times for each church, as well as details about refreshments being served at the Depot Museum.

The Depot Museum Expansion Project is to increase the size and functionality of the museum and when completed the museum will have more exhibit and storage space to educate the community about Batavia's rich history. The Depot Museum is a cooperative effort of the Batavia Historical Society and Batavia Park District.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.bataviahistoricalsociety.org or stop by the Depot Museum and Batavia Park District offices at 327 W. Wilson St. or 14 N. Van Buren St.

• Bethany Lutheran Church at 8 S. Lincoln St. is the youngest example of church architecture on the tour. The Swedish Bethany Lutheran church was organized in 1872 when a group met at the home of August Anderson. This is sometimes called the year of the "Great Migration" in which many Swedes came to Batavia to cut stone to be used in the rebuilding of Chicago after the Great Fire of the previous year. They first worshipped in a remodeled schoolhouse that was replaced in 1888 by a more formal red brick church (still the sanctuary).

• Batavia United Methodist Church at 8 N. Batavia Ave. celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2011. The first services were held in 1836 in the home of William Van Nortwick. The first building constructed by the Methodists in 1852 is still standing on First Street. It was also later used as a school called the McWayne Annex. The current sanctuary was built in 1887, a gift of Captain Newton and Reverend Gammon, whose homes still stand opposite one another at the corner of Batavia Avenue and Wilson Street.

• Calvary Episcopal Church at 222 S. Batavia Ave. was first organized in the home of Mrs. James C. Derby in 1842. The first church building was constructed on land donated by Joseph McKee in 1855. That building was destroyed by a tornado. The first service in the current building in 1880 was in a Batavia limestone building donated by John VanNortwick.

• Congregational Church of Batavia at 21 S. Batavia Ave. celebrated its 175th anniversary 2010. Founded as the Church of the Big and Little Woods in August 1835 in the cabin of Thompson Paxton, this church was founded first as a Presbyterian church. The congregation constructed a building in 1840 on Batavia Avenue. The current sanctuary was constructed in 1856. It is an example of colonial New England architecture fashioned in Batavia limestone.

The Congregational Church of Batavia was erected in 1856 with local limestone. The original steeple blew off during a violent storm in 1877 and not replaced until 1974. Courtesy of Batavia Historical Society

In 1948, Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia began a major renovation and remodeling project, taking down the tall steeple and resurfacing the building with a lighter brick. Courtesy of Bethany Lutheran Church

The original building of Bethany Lutheran Church, started by Swedish immigrants in 1872, featured a tall steeple built by skilled laborers from the local Challenge Windmill Co. Courtesy of Bethany Lutheran Church

The United Methodist Church of Batavia was designed by Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman in a French Romanesque Revival style, with field boulders from I.S. Stephen's Mill Creek Farm, just south of Batavia. Courtesy of Batavia Historical Society

Architect Solon Spencer Beman, who designed Chicago's Studebaker Fine Arts Building and the Pullman community on Chicago's south side, also designed the United Methodist Church of Batavia in 1887. Courtesy of Batavia Historical Society

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.