First Congregational Church of Western Springs
Why it's listed
This church complex on Chestnut Street in Western Springs, Illinois, sits on a corner lot of about 42,000 square feet, set back behind a wide lawn. It has a cross-shaped sanctuary built in 1929 and an Education Building finished in 1930, linked by a covered arched colonnade. Both are built of sand-colored Lannon stone under slate roofs. George Grant Elmslie designed the church, and Soderholm and Bodett Contractors of Oak Park built it. The design mixes Gothic Revival forms with Prairie School features such as ribbon windows, organic wood ornament and stained glass in blue, purple and gold. Inside, Elmslie designed the stenciled ceiling and wall patterns, the carved wood pulpit, reredos and screens, and plaster details including a grape-motif frieze. Later work restored finishes using original drawings, photographs and surviving material. The church was recognized for its architecture and as the work of Elmslie, with 1929 to 1930 as its period of significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination is made under Criterion C for architecture. It treats the church as the work of architect George Grant Elmslie, and it combines Late Gothic Revival, Prairie School and English Country elements. The period of significance is 1929-1930, the years the sanctuary and Education Building were built.
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 06000673, listed August 8, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1106 Chestnut St., Western Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | August 8, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000673 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929 - 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Elmslie, George Grant, architect; Soderholm and Bodett Contractors, builder |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival, Prairie School, English Country |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The property is still used for religious purposes. The text describes later restoration work, including replicated interior finishes, and a 1980 organ replacement. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.81484, -87.90311 (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 06000673.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452866
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.