The Loop District in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Chicago Temple

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 2024

1. Chicago Temple Marker

Inscription. The first Methodist church
World's tallest church building and present home of this city's oldest religious body
Erected 1922

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the United Methodist Church Historic Sites series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 41° 52.967′ N, 87° 37.827′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in The Loop District. It is on Washington Street east of Clark Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the eastern side of the Chicago Temple Building, beneath a stained-glass window depicting the Temple Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 77 West Washington Street, Chicago IL 60602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fourth Church Building of First Methodist Church of Chicago (a few steps from this marker);

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Founded by This Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Second Church Building of First Methodist Church of Chicago (within shouting distance of this marker); Founding of the Arthur Dixon Bible Class (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Church Building of First Methodist Church of Chicago (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Church Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Founding of the First Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Augustus Garrett (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The window is one of 10 on the eastern side of the Chicago Temple building depicting the history of the First Methodist Church

Chicago Temple marker and stained-glass window image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 2024

2. Chicago Temple marker and stained-glass window

of Chicago.

Regarding Chicago Temple. Construction on the Holabird and Roche-designed Temple Building began in 1922, and when it was completed in 1924 at 568 feet tall, it was the tallest building in Chicago for six years, until the Chicago Board of Trade Building was completed in 1930. Most listings of the tallest churches in the world do not include the Chicago Temple, because the entire building is not used as a church. By that standard, Germany's Ulm Minster, at 530 feet, is the tallest. However, based on the distance from ground level to the tip of the steeple, the Chicago Temple is the largest church building in the world.

The building's dual use as a church and an office building carried on a practice that began with the third church building on this site, completed in 1858 but destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. That building and its successor included two floors of space rented out to businesses, with the church on the top two floors. This building took that concept to a much greater level,

Chicago Temple stained glass image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 12, 2024

3. Chicago Temple stained glass

The window is one of 10 on the east side of the temple that depict the history of the First Methodist Church of Chicago. Daley Plaza and the Daley Center are across the street.

with the fifth through 21st floors rented out for office space, primarily to lawyers drawn by the building's proximity to Chicago, Cook County and Illinois government buildings. The building also includes three sanctuaries: a four-story sanctuary at ground-level, smaller Dixon Chapel on the second floor, and the Sky Chapel at the base of the steeple.

Also see . . .
1. Chicago Temple History. From the First United Methodist Church of Chicago's official site. (Submitted on December 14, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. The “Mother Church of Chicago Methodism”: 100 years of the Chicago Temple Building. The Chicago History Museum looks at the building's centennial anniversary in 2024.

Excerpt: “The cornerstone for the new skyscraper church was laid in 1922. At the congregation’s final service in their previous building, Rev. Thompson, known as the 'Shepherd of the Loop,' is quoted as stating, 'Changing conditions require new adaptations in methods, and a larger, more
Rocco D. Navigato, artist; courtesy of the Library of Congress, circa 1925

4. Chicago Temple
varied ministry.' The choice to rebuild again downtown came at a time when many congregations were choosing to sell lucrative properties and move toward the suburbs.”

(Submitted on December 14, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional keywords. First United Methodist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 13, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on December 14, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.