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The History of St. Paul's
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The history of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
in DeKalb goes back to the 1850s. The
first church building was constructed in
1881 and the current church is the
third in the history of the parish.
The current facility was built in 1967
on six acres of land purchased by the
diocese of Chicago so that the church
could be closer to the campus of Northern
Illinois University. Cornerstones from the
first two churches were incorporated
into the new building, maintaining a
symbolic tie to the previous churches
and parishioners.
The church has been described as unique. Some have described it as a “stylized barn silo, appropriate to the agricultural history of the area.” Others see it as an upside down ship or ark. Still others view it as a covered bridge, with the portals leading to the altar of God. According to parish history, the third image is the one intended by the architects.
Prior to 2000, the undercroft served as the meeting and social area of the church. In 2000, a fellowship hall was built on the south east side of the church. The new hall has a full kitchen, large gathering room, a nursery, and a meeting room as well as parish offices. There is also an outdoor patio, which is often used for after service functions and cookouts. The undercroft is currently used for Sunday school classes and for a youth recreation center. A ping-pong table, air hockey table, and pool table accommodate a variety of youth and young adult activities. There is also a full kitchen and several storage areas in the undercroft.
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