Bloomingdale church celebrates 100-year anniversary

BLOOMINGDALE – With only about 100 active members, St. Paul Evangelical is the little church that could.

Bloomingdale's oldest active church recently celebrated 100 years in its current building with a ceremony.

St. Paul was established in 1878, according to a church news release, and has been a hub for village leadership since its early days. Four of Bloomingdale's original six Village Board trustees were church members, according to Bloomingdale Historical Society member Mary Ellen Johnson.

“We've really been here in Bloomingdale for all of Bloomingdale's history,” said the Rev. Jeremy Heitkam, who is St. Paul's interim pastor.

The church was founded under the name The German United Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul Church of Bloomingdale, the release stated, and the first language spoken was German. The practice of worshipping in German continued into the 1940s, according to documents provided by the church, although English services were added before then.

The corner stone of St. Paul's existing building at 118 1st St. was laid May 17, 1914, church documents state, and the structure was completed about six months later.

Over the years, the church has undergone several name changes and additions, but its dedication to community service has remained a defining factor.

St. Paul offers a food pantry and monthly breakfast, and distributed 125 Thanksgiving dinners this year to area residents.

“They've always been a very active part of the community,” Johnson said.

Heitkam said the 100th anniversary service and lunch, held Nov. 16, provided an opportunity to reconnect the church with that mission. Members of several Bloomingdale organizations were present, including the historical society, the Bloomingdale Garden Club and the Bloomingdale Fire Protection District, which provided an honor guard. Mayor Franco Coladipietro was also in attendance.

“It's a milestone for us,” Heitkam said.