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| Home > Visitors Center > Church History |
| St. Paul's Lutheran Church History
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1859 in downtown Kankakee. It was in the late 1850's when several Lutheran families, having left Germany, found homes in the then little town of Kankakee, IL That first small congregation of 30 to 40 members worshipped in a variety of places, until the first church was completed in 1864 at East Avenue and Chestnut. The first building was torn down and a second structure was completed in 1872 in its place. In 1887 the then church and school was destroyed by fire. In 1888, the cornerstone was laid for the third church building at its present location. It was dedicated December 9, 1888. The three large bells in the bell tower were purchased in 1901. Electric lights were added in 1923. During the week activities are held at our School site on Butterfield Trail near Riverside Hospital. Our School moved to the site just west of the hospital in 1976. It serves children from age 3 years through the eighth grade. |