Return to : Gillespie, IL.
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G i l l e s p i e Gillespie, Illinois - Macoupin County Illinois, - State of Illinois - United States Of America |
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Gillespie, Illinois
Church History
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Probably the "Oldest Building in Town" was built in 1863 as St. John's Episcopal Church.
This building was purchased by the Redeemer Lutheran Chuch in 1932. On April 24, 1932 the first Redeemer Lutheran Church
service in Gillespie was held in a private home.
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 Photograph furnished by : Jill Secoy Redeemer Lutheran Church |
 Photographed in 2006
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The history of the Christian Church begins around 1859 or so, when a group of Christians met in a house,
and then in the "Colonial Annex" which was located at 203½ South Macoupin Street. Somewhere around 1901
they puchased a frame building on Elm Street from the Zion Lutheran Church. A new building was began in 1915
and was dedicated in March of 1916, only to be destroyed by fire in 1925. Meetings were then held in the
Odd Fellows Hall on South Macoupin Street during construction of a new building. The new structure was dedicated
in 1926. This building sustained damage in the tornado of 1948, but was repairable.
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 Photograph furnished by : Jill Secoy |
 Photograph furnished by : Jill Secoy |
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| The First Methodist Church was organized in 1863. | ||
 Photograph furnished by : Jill Secoy |
First Methodist Church corner of Spruce & Madison Gillespie, Illinois Reverend Homer Young, | |
 Photographed in 2006
First United Methodist Church | ||
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The First Lutheran Church was established in 1869 and organized in 1870.
This may have also been known as the German Lutheran Church.
 In 1963 a Zion Fellowship Hall was constructed.
 Rev. Fredrick Kaiser December 22, 1839 September 21, 1871 First Pastor Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Gillespie, Illinois 1870 - 1871 Located in Gillespie City Cemetery |
 circa 1907
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In February of 1879 the Catholic Church decided to build a mission church in Gillespie, Illinois. As a Mission Church , it was served by priests from various surrounding communities until 1905. On April 1, 1905, Father John Crosson became the first resident priest. In 1906, as a residence for the priests, a rectory was constructed. For the nuns serving the church and teaching at the school, a convent home was erected in 1925. In 1914 they built a parochial school of which the 'Sisters Of Mercy' took charge in September of 1914. In 1929, a new brick structure to serve as the church was being constructed and completed in early 1930. Some of the Priests who have served Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church in Gillespie are :
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 Photograph furnished by : Jill Secoy |
 Photographed in 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Saints Simon & Jude Catholic Church 304 North Macoupin Gillespie, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Photograph furnished by : Jill Secoy |
 Photographed in 2006 First Christian Church |
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| The Baptist Church began having services in Gillespie as tent meetings. |  Photographed in 2006 | |
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| First Baptist Church 820 Broadway Street Gillespie, Illinois | ||
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Praise Assembly Of God 209 Montgomery Street Gillespie, Illinois |
 Photographed in 2006 |
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The Trinity Baptist Church was organized May 9, 1969.
502 South Macoupin Gillespie, Illinois |
 Photographed in 2006 |
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© 2006 - 2009 Wayne Hinton