A Welcoming Introduction

Welcome! We are a “19th Century Church, with a 21st Century Message”

Welcome to the oldest organized church in Lake County, Illinois! We call ourselves a “19th Century Church with a 21st Century Message” because from our earliest days we have believed in serving the broader community.

Ivanhoe Congregational Church was founded on February 20, 1838, by 16 people meeting in the log cabin home of Alfred Payne. The sanctuary was built in 1856 and built in authentic New England style by settlers from the eastern U.S. When the educational addition was built in 1957, workers discovered many hand-hewn timbers used in the original construction. The church building was placed on the Illinois Register of Historic Places in  1973. The present  sanctuary, expertly  remodeled in 2001, is  highlighted by its generously framed focal point – a beautiful stained glass window centered over the altar. 

Over the years, the Church congregation has changed from a rural to a suburban membership. The membership is quite diverse, drawing from a relatively large geographic area and represents a broad spectrum of talents, education, vocations, and age groups. Ivanhoe Congregational church is part of the United Church of Christ, which you can read  about “What We Believe” if you follow this link:

ucc.org/what-we-believe/worship/statement-of-faith/

We believe in living our faith, following the example of Christ who drew no bounds between communities. Christ’s emphasis on being open to all has been a fundamental belief since Ivanhoe was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, we continue to reach out in love to all God’s children and welcome all to worship God and serve God’s people. It is our prayer that when you worship with us, you will experience a warm and friendly welcome, and you will receive the good news message of God’s grace in a way that is relevant to your life.

May God bless your faith journey