Community Rallies In Support Of Historic South Side Church

CHICAGO — A five alarm fire in the city's south-side Bronzeville neighborhood claimed an historic structure that some preservationists are calling an architectural treasure— Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Standing strong in their faith, church members were able to come together last Sunday despite losing their house of worship just days earlier. In the community center across the street from the remains of the burned landmark, the congregation gathered for a sermon that focused on the positive— that no one was seriously hurt in the blaze.

The 200 strong congregation plans to rebuild, but estimates for reconstruction costs befitting a suitable restoration project would prove to be a financially enormous undertaking. On Monday, politicians and other city leaders offered to help fund the reconstruction effort. Pledging up to $1 million in state funds for rebuilding costs to the area, which included the adjacent Loop Lab School, Gov. Rob Blagojevich also offered an additional $1,000 from his own pocket. He explained that the state money would not directly go to the church in order to maintain the constitutional separation between church and state.

On Tuesday, The Pritzker Family Foundation challenge grant offered to match private donations dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 to help rebuild the historic church and restore its historic art and artifacts.

"J.B. and M.K. Pritzker have been very supportive of our church for years. Still, for them to be so generous when we need it so badly is just overwhelming," Robert Vaughn, chairman of Pilgrim's board of trustees, told Reuters. "Without contributions like this, we could not afford to fully replace the church. It's a blessing from the Lord." "With this gift, I can see a magnificent new church begin to rise out of the charred ashes of our old home," continued Mr. Vaughn. "We pray that this generous gift will inspire others to help us restore our community's spiritual center." In the meantime, the congregation will continue meet at the community center and carry their message of music, joy and hope.

An important landmark to Bronzeville and the entire city, the historic 115-year-old structure was designed by distinguished architect Louis Sullivan and his partner Dankmar Adler in the late 1800s as a synagogue but has housed the Pilgrim Baptist Church since 1922. The church hosted the funeral of boxer Jack Johnson and is considered the birthplace of gospel music.