First Church of Lombard
Also known as: First Church of Lombard,United Church of Christ; Maple Street
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Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Maple and Main Streets in Lombard, Illinois, this board-and-batten frame church was dedicated on May 29, 1870, by a congregation that began in 1851 as the Congregational Church of Babcock's Grove. Local artisans built it in the Gothic Revival style, with calico windows, hoodmoulds, an open belfry and spire topped by a Celtic cross, and small flanking spires. Inside, the original pews, wainscoting and wide plank pine flooring survive, and the sanctuary seats about 175. The north entrance was removed and the present entries added when Maple Street was paved in 1915. Beyond its architecture, the church served the town in many ways. A member, Josiah Torrey Reade, housed a free public library in its south room, an early kindergarten met there, and Lincoln School held an eighth grade graduation there. Its bell also called the volunteer bucket brigade to fires. The building remains on its original site.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as a visual link to the Gothic Revival era as interpreted in a midwestern suburban town of the 1870s, with much early detail intact inside and out. It is also historically important to Lombard as a congregation home, library site, early kindergarten and school venue, and fire-alarm bell location.
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 78001144, listed August 10, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Maple and Main Sts., Lombard |
|---|---|
| County | DuPage County |
| Listed | August 10, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001144 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1870) |
| Architect / builder | Local artisans - unknown |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in private ownership, in religious use, in good condition and altered; the form describes exterior alterations as minimal. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.88308, -88.01872 (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 78001144.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452728
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.