Zion's Neighboring Christian Congregations

Click here to find the ELCA congregation nearest you or anywhere in the USA!

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First English Lutheran Church, Peoria.

Organized in 1906, this was the first Peoria Lutheran congregation to worship primarily in English, though Zion (and presumedly other Peoria Lutheran congregations) had already been offering English language worship for nearly a decade.

Grace and Peace Lutheran Church, Peoria

Formed in 1994 by the merger of two Peoria congregations, Grace Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church. Organized in 1911, Grace's heritage can be traced back to one of the Illinois Lutheran synods that would form the United Lutheran Church in America in 1918. Peace was a daughter congregation of Zion and First English that was organized in 1982.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Peoria

Organized in 1853, St. Paul is the mother church of Zion and several other Central Illinois Lutheran congregations and is now located mid-town. Her heritage is the Iowa Synod.

Salem Lutheran Church, Peoria

This mid-town congregation of Swedish Augustana Synod heritage organized in 1883.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peoria

The MyChurch.org space for Zion, which was first planted as a Sunday School in 1883 by the Pastor and people of St. Paul's in Peoria (and thus the Iowa Synod), Zion has been at the corner of Easton and Hayes since prior to her organization in 1894. See also our alternate website at forMinistry.com, a ministry of the American Bible Society, which offers free websites to all churches in North America. We also have another alternate site at Lutherans Online, which is sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bartonville

A daughter congregation of Zion organized in 1909 and our nearest ELCA neighbor, Bethel and Zion were a 2-point parish served by the same pastor until 1920. Many of Bethel's first members were immigrants from England working the mines just south of Peoria who were evangelized by Zion's German-American Lutheran pastors.

St. John Lutheran Church, Bartonville

While officially organized in 1853, St. John's history claims to pre-date St. Paul's, and thus would be the oldest "Peoria" ELCA congregation. It, too, was in the Iowa Synod. This very out-of-date site (you may want to watch your sound level) was created by a member of the congregation.

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Benson

This congregation whose church is in the town of Benson was organized in 1911 by Iowa Synod Lutherans who split from the older St. Peter Lutheran Church, which continues just outside of Benson.

St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chillicothe [Web site appears to be down.]

Organized in 1950, St. Mark's is one of the younger congregations in the area, so unlike many Conference congregations, worship has always been in English. Her heritage is the American Lutheran Church.

Wiley Lutheran Church, Ellisville

Organized in 1879, the heritage of this rural parish is the Illinois Synod.

St. Peter Lutheran Church, Glasford

The country parish of Iowa Synod heritage was established south-west of Peoria in 1885.

St. John's Lutheran Church, Hartsburg

Another rural parish of Iowa Synod heritage, established in the town of Hartsburg north of Lincoln in 1885.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lincoln

Established in 1892 by German-speaking Lutherans, this congregation has been served by two pastors who would later serve as Lutheran Bishops in Illinois.

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Minonk

This rural congregation organized in 1915.

Advent Lutheran Church, Morton

Organized in 1966 by developers from the Lutheran Church in America for this growing suburb of Peoria.

Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pekin

A United Lutheran Church in America mission that organized in 1958.

Zion-Penn Ridge Lutheran Church, Trivoli

A small congregation organized in 1849 by Lutherans from Pennsylvania. They would later be affiliated with the United Lutheran Church in America.

Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Washington

Another daughter church of Zion (and thus the American Lutheran Church), Faith was organized in 1947 in Sunnyland.

St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Washington

Organized in 1875, but with roots that go back before the Civil War, St. Mark's was part of the Illinois Synod (which would later help form the United Lutheran Church in America).

Bethany Lutheran Church, Wenona.

A rural congregation of Swedish Augustana Synod roots, organized in 1892.

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Central Ilinois also has many congregations of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. While theological differences have kept the ELCA and LCMS far from full fellowship, the Peoria area congregations are able to co-operate in supporting the local ministries of Lutheran Hillside Village, a continuing care retirement community, and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. LCMS congregations nearest to Zion include:

Christ Lutheran Church, Peoria

Zion's neighbor on the South Side, only a couple of blocks away since both congregations organized in 1894. Christ is a daughter church of Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, and has a fine K-8 school with a pre-school.

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria

This congregation was organized in 1961 and in 2004 re-located to the property Redeemer Lutheran (see below) outgrew and sold in 1997.

Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria

A mid-town, neighborhood congregation organized in 1932.

Redeemer Lutheran Church, Peoria

Organized in 1949, Redeemer is the largest Lutheran congregation in Peoria.

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

The only remaining downtown Peoria Lutheran congregation was established in 1857 when dissidents from St. Paul Lutheran Church sought a pastor from the Missouri Synod. Trinity is a mother church of the Peoria LCMS congregations.

St John's Lutheran Church, Green Valley

This congregation was established in 1876.

St Peter's Lutheran Church, East Peoria

This congregation, just across the Illinois River from Zion, was established in 1895.

Bethel Lutheran Church, Morton

This congregation was established in 1945.

St. John's Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Pekin

The oldest LCMS congregation in the area, organized in 1852.

Trinity Lutheran Church of Pekin

This congregation was established in 1941 by members of St. John's.

Our Savior Lutheran Church, Washington

This congregation was established in 1965.

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The nearest congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is:

Living Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Peoria

The newest Lutheran congregation in the Peoria area was organized in the 1990s and moved into their permanent church building -- purchased from Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (LCMS) -- in 2004.

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Through the full-communion agreement between the ELCA and the Episcopal Church, Zion enjoys her relationship with the neighboring parishes of the Diocese of Quincy. Those with a web presence include:

The Church of St. Andrew The Apostle, Peoria

An Episcopal Church on the near North Side of Peoria, established in 1896.

St. Paul's Cathedral, Peoria

St. Paul's history reaches back to 1834 with the formation and brief existence of St. Jude's Church in downtown Peoria. St. Paul's parish was established in 1848 and became the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Quincy in 1963.

Bread of Life Anglican Fellowship, Peoria

A new mission start just established in northern Peoria, Bread of Life seeks to traditional Anglican worship and theology in a contemporary style.

St. Francis Church, Dunlap (North Peoria)

This renewing mission of the Diocese of Quincy, which began meeting in Chillicothe in 1959, moved to Alta (on the far north side of Peoria) late in 2003, and in 2007 to the Lake of the Woods area of north Peoria

Zion Church, Brimfield

A mission parish of the Quincy Diocese west of Peoria, first organized in 1845, that is served by the Rector of Grace Church in Galesburg.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Canton

This parish was organized in 1891.

Christ Church (Limestone), Hanna City

This historic church was organized in 1837 and established in Limestone Township, which is just west of Peoria. After a long decline, regular services were discontinued in 1924, but the church re-opened as a mission in 1960.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Pekin

This parish, across the Illinois River from Peoria, is part of the neighboring Springfield Diocese. This parish has a history in Pekin dating to 1838, and was admitted to the Diocese in 1851.

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Through another full-communion agreement of the ELCA, Zion is also officially in communion with these neighboring congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Church of Christ:

Bethel Presbyterian Church, Peoria
Organized in 1887, this small congregation is Zion's nearest Presbyterian neighbor.
United Presbyterian Church, Peoria
Organized in 1834, the historic downtown First Presbyterian Church, built in 1889, burned down in 2000, and relocated in 2001 to northwest Peoria. In 2003 First merged with Arcadia Avenue Presbyterian, which had been a mission formed by First in 1896 near Peoria's East Bluff.
Northminster Presbyterian Church, Peoria
Established in 1957, this congregation relocated further to the far north side of Peoria in 1996.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Peoria
On Moss Avenue on the historic West Bluff of Peoria, overlooking the South Side, Westminster was organized in 1897.

First Presbyterian Church of Canton
This congregation's history reaches back to 1828 when it was the northernmost of Illinois' 21 Presbyterian churches.

Washington Presbyterian Church
This congregation was organized in 1834.

First Federated Church of Peoria
This large mid-town church is actually two congregations -- Second Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and First Congregational Church (UCC) -- whose history goes back to 1834.

New Church UCC, Peoria
A congregation established in 1999 on the near-north side of Peoria.

Union Church at Brimfield
This church was established in 1923.

First Congregational Church, Canton
This church has been organized since 1842.

Plymouth Congregational Church, Chillicothe
This congregation was established in 1891.

Bethel Memorial UCC, Creve Coeur
This congregation organized in 1933.

Fondulac Congregational UCC, East Peoria
This church was established in 1959.

Community United Church of Christ, Morton
This church was established in 1831.

St. Paul UCC, Pekin
A large, downtown congregation established in 1858.

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While Lutherans and Catholics are not in communion, we are able to enjoy a good relationship through the Cursillo of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. Neighboring Catholic parishes include:

St. Ann Catholic Church, Peoria

Zion's nearest Roman Catholic neighbor, several blocks away on the South Side. St. Ann's is the 1994 consolidation of 2 parishes that were just a few blocks apart, St. Boniface Church, which has been at this very location since 1882, and St. John Church, which had been Zion's nearest Roman Catholic neighbor since 1892.

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria

The cathedral for the Diocese of Peoria, St. Mary's Parish serves both English and Spanish-speaking Catholics. The parish was established in 1846.

Holy Family Parish, Peoria

A parish of the Conventual Franciscan Friars on the north-west side of Peoria. Established in 1956, Holy Family parish is served by the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Saint Bonaventure Province.

Sacred Heart Parish, Peoria

This historic downtown parish was established in 1878. This parish has been served by the Franciscan Friars of the St. John the Baptist Province since 1892.

St. Mark's Church, Peoria

Serving the Roman Catholics on Peoria's West Bluff near Bradley University since 1891. It was remodeled in 2002 [note: a pdf document].

St. Joseph Student Chapel & Newman Center at Bradley University, Peoria

Serves the Roman Catholic students, faculty, and staff at Bradley University and Illinois Central College. Offering a "spiritual haven in the midst of a secular university," the Newman Center is housed next to St. Mark's Church.

St. Joseph Catholic Church, Peoria

An historic parish just south of downtown Peoria dates to 1879. Called St Martin de Porres Church after a 1970s consolidation with St. Patrick's Church, the original St Joseph's name was restored in 2006.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peoria Heights

Begun as a mission in 1924, St. Thomas was established as a parish church in 1937.

St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, Peoria

Maronites are Eastern Catholics from the regions of Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, many of whom who immigrated to the United States. St. Sharbel's was first established in 1974 to serve Peoria's large Lebanese-American community.

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Other neighboring Christian congregations include:

All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, Peoria

Ministering to the Eastern Orthodox in the Peoria area since 1928.

St. Elias Orthodox Mission, Peoria

A local mission of an Eastern Orthodox Church with roots in Syria and Lebanon, that has been very receptive to Western Christians discovering this ancient expression of the Christian Faith.

St. Benedict's Abbey, Bartonville

The Ecumenical Benedictine Community of St. John the Baptist & St. Benedict was founded in Puerto Rico in 1985 and moved to Central Illinois in the mid 1990s. While the Abbey enjoys a close relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Quincy, it also includes members of other Christian churches.

South Side Mission, Peoria

Has been ministering to the poor and downtrodden of Peoria, particularly women and children, since 1925. Zion has helped support the South Side Mission's Food Pantry for nearly 2 decades.

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Copyright © 2002-2008 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peoria. All rights reserved.
Created -- 18 May 2002
Last Revised -- 25 April 2008