First Congregational Church of Austin
Also known as: Greater Holy Temple of God in Christ
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Why it's listed
Located on the southwest corner of Midway Place and Waller in Chicago, this one-story church sits on a raised basement and is built of yellow-beige Roman brick trimmed with stone. A tall central entrance section lies between two lower side masses, and the cavernous doorway is framed by posts and lintels with two massive piers topped by planters. Leaded-glass windows separated by thick brick piers line the sides, and a leaded-glass skylight lights the tall nave. It was designed by William Drummond, who worked for Frank Lloyd Wright from 1899 to 1909 and served as chief draftsman and project manager. The building matters as an early work by one of Wright's best students and as an uncommon church by a Prairie architect. It later housed Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, and Greater Holy Temple of God in Christ congregations. The interior pews and ceiling lights have changed, and a rear addition dates from 1959.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an early work by one of Frank Lloyd Wright's best students and shows how well a Wright student could capture his master's modern style. Because Wright's students rarely designed anything but houses, a church is an uncommon building type for a Prairie architect.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000474, listed November 17, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5701 W. Midway Pl., Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | November 17, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000474 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 |
| Architect / builder | William Drummond, Architect |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as a church by the Greater Holy Temple of God in Christ; interior altered, basement extensively remodeled, and a rear addition built in 1959. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Austin Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.88873, -87.76798 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000474.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452837
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.