Vacant Churches


A number of empty churches sit vacant in the Chicago area, as parish needs and demographics have shifted over the years. We talk with real estate insiders and preservationists to track this trend and how some historic structures are being repurposed throughout the city. See photos of now-vacant churches and their origins in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood below.

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St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 913-925 N. Hoyne Avenue – The building was designed by architects Henry Worthmann & John Steinbach and built in 1905 by the St. Johannis German Evangelical Lutheran congregation. The church still stands with original stained glass windows and original woodwork intact. The school building attached was also constructed in the same time period. Both the church and school were bought by Regency Development Group. The building has been given landmark status and will be converted into condominiums.

Hoyne Avenue Wesleyan Church, 900 N. Hoyne Avenue - Built in 1893 by Zion’s Evangelical Society, the church was one of the earliest constructed in the neighborhood. In 1930, the church was sold to the Hoyne Avenue Society of the Evangelical Church and sold again in 1951 to the Illinois Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. It is currently under contract. 

Hispanic Baptist Church, 1042 N. Damen Avenue – In 1903, the Congregation of Moses Montefiore constructed this building. In 1926, the building was sold to the Polish Sons of Liberty Club and then to the Chicago Gospel Assembly. The building was demolished in 2013 to make way for a condominium development.

Leavitt Street Bible Church, 1137 N. Leavitt Street – The church was built in 1893 by the 1st Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chicago and in 1925 became the Leavitt Street Bible Church. The land is currently for sale.

Photo credit: Our Urban Times

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