OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted May 31, 2009 @ 10:37 PM

WEST PEORIA —

The last hymn was sung within the walls of United Disciples Christian Church on Sunday afternoon.

Tears were present as members said goodbye to their church on Kellogg Avenue, which has struggled with declining membership since its formation July 1, 2005, when two longtime Peoria congregations merged.

"It's been a trend throughout the nation," said Fred Carrell, president of the congregation. "Church is a lot more informal than it used to be," he said, adding that people now watch television or even listen to the radio to worship.

Four years ago, Howett Street Christian Church combined with West Bluff Christian Church, moving into its West Peoria quarters. The merged church was renamed United Disciples Christian Church. Members believed the joining of the nearly 100-year-old churches would put an end to their financial troubles, but instead, they continued.

Members said it was stressful to worry about the church's declining population and its finances, including a building that was eventually too large to maintain.

Minister Carol Bennett-Barker began the final church service at 3 p.m. but had to pause before her sermon when she began crying for the loss of the church. She has been the minister for the last 2 1/2 years and the music director for 21 years, beginning at West Bluff.

"It's sad, and it's very exciting," she said optimistically before taking the pulpit. "It's the blowing of the wind and setting people forth. I'm really looking forward to what's ahead."

Margie McGaughey, 87, of Peoria joined West Bluff in 1948. During her 61 years there, she has raised four children and attended church every Sunday.

"I'm happy for us," McGaughey said. "It was such a struggle, really a constant worry."

Those in attendance Sunday also offered additional reasons for United Disciples' demise including its traditional style of worship and the fact that the majority of the congregation is elderly.

"I think we have had a hard time keeping up with the changing of the times," said Dorthy Gilmore, chairperson of the Legacy Committee, which is in charge of dispensing the church's assets as well as organizing the final worship.

Lyndsey Genkins of Bartonville is one of the handful of youths at the church. The 17-year-old joined the church when she was in sixth grade and has witnessed the youth programs dissolve because of lack of numbers.

"They don't have a lot of kids here, and they don't know how to input them into worship," she said, adding that she is searching for a new church to join. "I look for the music, more rock-alternative, and not just sitting in the pew the whole time."

Throughout its history, the church has been the home to community organizations such as Boy Scouts and the Red Cross. To keep the community-oriented tradition alive, the church has donated the building to the city of West Peoria. Although the city has indicated it would accept the facility, the decision is not official.

City Alderman Merlin "Rocky" Mathewson attended the final services and addressed the congregation about his fond memories of the church and the community.

He said later that the city is in the first stages of hiring an architect to examine the building.

"We didn't want to jump into it in case there's a problem with it," he said. "If it does work out, it will be a great community center."

He said a discussion about the future of the building will be held at its next council meeting.

As for the members of the congregation, they will go their separate ways. Carrell said 11 other United Disciples Christian churches in the area have offered to help.

"Changes are hard on people," said Carrell. "But when one door opens another door closes."

 

Stephanie Gomes can be reached at 686-3194 or sgomes@pjstar.com.


By SCOTT HILYARD
Journal Star
Posted Jun 09, 2009 @ 09:59 PM
Last update Jun 10, 2009 @ 04:39 PM

WEST PEORIA —

Its walls have housed a church since it was built in 1924, but the United Disciples Christian Church building at 2018 W. Kellogg Ave. might soon be the new West Peoria City Hall.

"There are a lot of issues still in the planning process. But one thing is certain - the church is a very generous gift to the city and residents of West Peoria," said Mayor Jim Dillon.

The council agreed 7-0 to accept the gift of the church at its regular meeting Tuesday night. Ward 4 Alderman Thomas Dwyer was absent.

With declining numbers, an aging congregation and near-constant money worries, the congregation voted to close the church earlier this year. The congregation was formed four years ago when Howett Street Christian Church merged with West Bluff Christian church. The last service was May 31. The congregation already had decided to offer its church building to the city.

"It has always been used as a community building through the years," said Dorothy Gilmore, a 62-year member of the church who was married there and whose children all were married there. "We see this as our congregation's continuing legacy."

The church first contacted the city with its idea in January. The city hired a consultant to inspect the 85-year-old building and found it well-maintained and in good shape.

But it's a church, not a municipal building, and much renovation - and asbestos abatement - would be needed to complete a transformation. Dillon said the cost to build a new, much smaller, city hall would be about the same to renovate the old, much larger, church - $1 million. The difference is that $1 million would buy the city a comfortably large city hall.

"It's probably three times bigger than we need," Dillon said. "But that's a good problem to have. The township needs new office space after the roof caved in on its building (2 1/2 years ago), and we'd have plenty of room for both."

Dillon said the church's sanctuary would make an impressive council chambers with a high ceiling, and there also would be space to create some sort of official community center.

The acceptance of the gift does not commit City Hall to moving into the church. That would be decided only after a funding plan was put in place and city residents weighed in on the issue.

"This is just a first step," Dillon said. "I think moving City Hall there would make neighbors happy. The church has been an important part of that neighborhood for a long time."

 

Scott Hilyard can be reached at 686-3244 or at shilyard@pjstar.com.


United Disciples Christian Church
Saturday, July 11, 2008 @ 10:00 A.M.
at
2018 West Kellog Street, West Peoria, Il. 61604

Directions:  West of Western Avenue at 2018 West Kellog Street in Bradley University Area.
Auctioneer's Note: Church and architectural pieces including 200 plus all oak church pews, bookcases, tables and chairs, slag glass chandiler lights, religious artifacts and framed prints, kitchen appliances, gas fryers, steam table, office equipment, sound equipment, pin ball game, pool table, and much much more.

~auction conducted by~
KIESEWETTER AUCTION SERVICES
810 Fisher Road, Creve Coeur, Illinois 61610
Ph: 309-699-3800
Licensed Illinois Real Estate Auctioneer #440000377