Holy Family Church
Also known as: Emmanuel Faih Bible Christian Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1914 on a corner lot at 1840 Lincoln Street in North Chicago, this red brick church was designed by William F. Gubbins in the Late Gothic Revival style. Its features include two front gables, a steeply pitched roof, pointed lancet windows, louvers and a roughly 50-foot bell tower with battlements. Limestone provides the coping, lintels, sills and water table, contrasting with the brick walls. Inside, a beamed plaster ceiling rises 37 feet over the sanctuary, and three Gothic arches frame the altar area. The church was the first Catholic church in North Chicago, a city that grew rapidly after 1891 around manufacturing and the nearby naval training station. It is the only surviving Late Gothic Revival building in the city. The original footprint remains, although the stained glass in the side windows, furnishings and artifacts were removed when the parish sold the building in 1993. It was recognized for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The church is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture as a good example of the Late Gothic Revival style. Its upward-thrusting gables, lancet windows, louvers, battlemented bell tower and contrasting brick and stone detailing express the style. It is the only surviving Late Gothic Revival building in North Chicago, and it was the city's first Catholic church.
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 03000780, listed August 21, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1840 Lincoln St., North Chicago |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | August 21, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000780 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914 |
| Architect / builder | Gubbins, William F./ Bajorek, Joseph |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility by a later congregation after the parish sold it in 1993; the original footprint survives, though stained glass, furnishings and fixtures were removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.32496, -87.84283 (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 03000780.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q96381201
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.