College Church is an
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual expe ...
non-denominational church in
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is a suburban city in Milton and Winfield Townships and is the county seat of DuPage County, Illinois. It is located approximately west of Chicago. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 52,894, which was estimated ...
founded in 1861 by the abolitionist and first president of Wheaton College
Jonathan Blanchard. College Church is located across two city blocks facing the Wheaton College campus. Josh Moody has been the Senior Pastor of College Church since 2009. It reported a regularly attending membership of 1,290 in 2022.
The Church owns a
Georgian revival
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover— George I, George II, Ge ...
building that faces the college campus on Washington Street.
[Federal Writer's Project, Du Page County: a descriptive and historical guide, 1831–1939, Illinois, 1948, p. 180.]
History
College Church was organized in 1861 by
Jonathan Blanchard in 1861. The church first met on the campus of Wheaton College as "The First Church of Christ in Wheaton." Blanchard wanted the church to be known for its opposition to slavery, secret societies, and alcohol use.
The church was first affiliated with the Congregational Association of Illinois. Blanchard's involvement as the first president of Wheaton College and as the founder of College Church caused the two institutions to share statements of faith and facilities. The church suffered divisions over doctrine and affiliation during the years after its founding, leading to the creation of what are now First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton and
Wheaton Bible Church.
After a reorganization in 1878 the church was renamed the College Church of Christ.
[.][ It gained its current name, College Church, in 1963, in an effort to distinguish itself from the Churches of Christ movement, which has a different theology.][
Although it is not formally associated with Wheaton College, College Church has long been closely associated with the college and drawn large numbers of students and members of the faculty to its services.]
Wheaton College website, accessed May 9, 2011.[Stephen J. Schnurr, Dennis Edward Northway, "Pipe organs of Chicago, Volume 1," Chauncey Park Press, 2005, p. 244.] Pastoral leadership throughout its history is as follows:
* Jonathan Blanchard (Wheaton), Jonathan Blanchard (1860–62)
* Charles A. Blanchard (1878–1883)
* Evan Welsh (1933–1946)
* Robert G. Rayburn (1947–50)
* Carl Armerding (1951–1955)
* L. P. McClenny (1958–1972)
* Nathan Goff (1973–1977)
* R. Kent Hughes
R. Kent Hughes (born March 1, 1942) is the former senior pastor of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, United States. Hughes is the author of numerous books, including the best-selling ''Disciplines of a Godly Man''. He is also editor and contrib ...
(1979–2006)
* Josh Moody (2009–present)
Ministries
College Church's local ministries include a children's, youth and college ministry. The high school ministry was formerly led by Zach Fallon, now serving as an incoming senior pastor for a church plant in the Atlanta, Georgia south metro area. The college ministry is led by Ben Panner. The church offers the disability ministry STARS (Seeking to Always Reflect the Savior) "to make access to worship, ministry, and fellowship a reality for any child or adult with special needs." /sup>">6/sup> College Church has ties with church plant congregations in Chicago, Batavia
Batavia may refer to:
Historical places
* Batavia (region), a land inhabited by the Batavian people during the Roman Empire, today part of the Netherlands
* Batavia, Dutch East Indies, present-day Jakarta, the former capital of the Dutch East In ...
, Lombard, and Naperville
Naperville ( ) is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, DuPage and Will County, Illinois, Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is in the Chicago metro area, west of the city.
Naperville was founded in 1831 by Joseph Naper. The city was ...
. /sup>">/sup> It has connections with the Outreach Community Center, and two resale shops. It runs a pastoral training program for pastoral residents.
Aerial photos and maps
*
References
Bibliography
*
*''Minutes of the First Church of Christ in Wheaton'', 1866–1879.
*''Minutes of the First Congregational Church'' 1879–1909.
*''Minutes of the First Presbyterian Church'' 1909–1952.
*''A History of DuPage County'', Richmond & Vallette 1857.
*''A History of DuPage County'', C. W. Richmond 1876.
*''History of DuPage County'', Rufus Blanchard 1882.
*''Report of Council of Congregational Churches'', Held in Wheaton in February 1879.
*
External links
College Church in Wheaton
{{authority control
Evangelical churches in Illinois
Buildings and structures in Wheaton, Illinois
Churches in DuPage County, Illinois
Religious organizations established in 1861
1861 establishments in Illinois