“A landmark church in Chicago’s historical Pullman neighborhood is in urgent need of repairs and preservation after two winters without heat, community leaders said as they rallied to save it from another cold season.
“Greenstone United Methodist Church, 11211 S. St. Lawrence Ave., has struggled in recent years to keep up with its utility bills, which led to heat being shut off in the building in fall 2023, pastor Luther Mason said. The church still owes about $10,000 to get its climate control restored, he said.
“Preservationists and Pullman neighbors worry that continued exposure to the elements could cause irreversible damage to the church and its notable features, including its large Steere and Turner organ and ornately carved wood panels.
“The Historic Pullman Foundation has started a GoFundMe campaign to preserve the church, a landmark of the Pullman National Historical Park. The fundraiser has amassed more than $11,000 of its $20,000 goal as of Tuesday morning.
“It’s more than just about faith,” said Cindy McMahon, treasurer of the Historic Pullman Foundation. “The Greenstone Church is a real integral jewel of the community. … Not getting heat is not good for any structure, especially when it’s 140 years old.”
“Built in 1882 by American industrialist George Pullman, Greenstone Church originated as an interdenominational place of worship for residents of Pullman, then a pioneering company town. It was sold to the Methodist Church in 1906, which owns and operates it today, according to the GoFundMe page.
“In 1960, the Pullman community successfully fought against developers who wanted to demolish the town and clear the area for an industrial park. Hundreds gathered at Greenstone Church to protest developers’ plans. Decades later, Pullman was recognized as Chicago’s only national historical park.
“On top of the heating issue, Greenstone Church’s supporters hope to begin an expensive rehabilitation project on the church’s bell tower this June. But the timeline of the work remains uncertain as City Hall sits on a $1.08 million grant that remains unallocated.
“In 2021, the city announced that Greenstone was tentatively set to receive the grant under the city’s Adopt-a-Landmark program, but Pullman Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) and Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) used a parliamentary procedure to indefinitely table City Council approval of the funds, the Sun-Times reported this August.
“‘I hope that people understand the significance of preserving Greenstone Church,’ McMahon said. ‘If you want to live in a nice place, you have to step up and be a part of making it a nice place to live.’ (Oberst, Block Club Chicago, 3/25/25)
Read the full story at Block Club Chicago
- Pullman Neighbors Rally To Help Landmark Greenstone Church As Utility Bills Pile Up; The Historic Pullman Foundation has launched a GoFundMe to raise money to help the 143-year-old church pay its utility bills and make needed repairs, Hunter Oberst, Block Club Chicago, 3/25/25
- Community effort to help historic Greenstone Church in Pullman, Michelle Gallardo, ABC7 Chicago, 4/13/25
- Preserve Pullman’s Legacy: Help Greenstone Church GoFundMe Campaign
- Landmark Pullman church sits after $1 million city repair grant was sent to aldermanic purgatory; Ald. Anthony Beale and Ald. Ray Lopez tabled approval to fix Greenstone Church’s aged bell tower. It’s time to release the funds, Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times, 8/2/24
- Greenstone Church (Greenstone United Methodist Church) Pullman National Historical Park