Heritage
We trace our historic roots to the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation and
its seventeenth-century doctrinal statements, the Westminster Standards. It has
been the history of our congregation and denomination to proclaim the truths that
were rediscovered in the Reformation to our community, nation, and world.
History of the Congregation
The history of Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church is the story of God's grace
and mercy to a group of sinners in Chicago's northwest suburbs. In the midst of
our ups and downs, He has been with us, maintaining and strengthening us for
His service.
We began in 1962 with a small nucleus of families who saw a need for a faithful
church in Hanover Park. This group of families affiliated with the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church (OPC) when it came under the oversight of Bethel OPC of
Wheaton, Illinois, in 1963. Grace Church became an organized congregation,
with its own elders, in 1967.
We took the name of Grace to reflect the fact that the development of our church
was an example of God's unmerited favor -His grace- to this group of believers.
In keeping with our name, we have sought to bring the gospel to our surrounding
communities. We have also attempted to be used by God to bring His grace to
others by participating in the home and foreign missions programs of our
denomination. We have overseen the development of new works in various
locations in Illinois and southern Wisconsin, most recently in Lindenhurst, Illinois
and in Wilmette, Illinois.
We have been blessed with ministers who have been hard-working men who
loved the Lord and His people. Each, in his own way, has forcefully proclaimed
the Word of God, and has been instrumental in the development of this church.
We thank God for each and everyone of them.
Our first building was a remodeled house along Barrington Road in the Cook
County portion of Hanover Park. The members of the congregation added an
auditorium onto our first pastor's home in 1967. This facility eventually became
too small and so we looked for new property. We purchased land in the DuPage
County part of Hanover Park and constructed a building, supplying much of the
labor ourselves. We moved into the new building in 1985 and have been
worshipping there ever since. We would welcome you to worship with us.
History of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church
The Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) was formed out of a conflict in the
mainline Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. That mainline denomination, in order to
become increasingly broad in its theology, had made room for some who no
longer thought it was necessary to believe in doctrines such as the inspiration
and authority of Scripture, the virgin birth of Christ, the miracles of Christ, the
blood atonement of Christ and the resurrection of Christ together with the future
resurrection of all believers.
There were some, however, who were unwilling to compromise with false
teaching. Dr. J. Gresham Machen and others formed a new church in 1936 to
faithfully contend for the truth of the Word of God. From their efforts the Orthodox
Presbyterian Church was born. The OPC still believes, to this day, that the truths
compromised by the mainline church are essential doctrines to the Christian
faith. The OPC continues to believe that the Westminster Confession and
Catechisms are the best man made summary of the doctrine which is taught in
the Word of God.
For more information about the history of our denomination, please see the
historical background found on the denomination website: OPC History
Grace Orthodox
Presbyterian Church
