St. Thomas More Catholic Church Shutting Down in Southwest Chicago; Locals Fundraise to Support Greenstone Methodist Church in Pullman

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Easter Holiday brings good news for one Chicago church, but sadness for another.

In Pullman, Greenstone Methodist Church managed to collect sufficient funds to continue operating, bringing relief to the congregation. However, the situation is different at Saint Thomas Moore Catholic church on the Southwest Side, where parishioners are facing their final Easter Sunday service before the church permanently closes.

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Saint Thomas More church is surrounded by stained glass windows that narrate the story of the saint, with a striking blue-toned mosaic in the apse and intricately carved wood panels illustrating the 14 stations of the cross.

The traditional Southwest Side Catholic church attracted more than 1,200 people when it was built in 1958.

“It’s a gorgeous church with a lot of spirit to it that should be utilized,” parishioner Bill McDonald said.

Long-time St. Thomas More parishioner, McDonald, expressed his shock and disappointment upon receiving a letter from the Archdiocese of Chicago on Palm Sunday. The letter stated that all masses at the church will cease after May 27, leaving the community saddened by the imminent closure.

“I don’t think I will be I will register at any church anymore if they close this church, I’m glued to Saint Thomas More,” parishioner Kate Aguanunu said. “I love this church. I love it with my heart. “

Kate and Chika Aguanunu have belonged to St. Thomas More since 1985.

With only about 160 members left, the Archdiocese gave the church and its parishioners three years to recruit more members, specifically African-American Catholics, but time is up.

“We want to continue the mission of attracting new Catholics to the faith,” McDonald said. “And they’re just saying, ‘No, you’ve had a chance.'”

While St. Thomas More parishioners pray for another chance, a few miles south, Pullman residents are celebrating their efforts this Easter weekend in saving a church.

RELATED | Community effort to help historic Greenstone Church in Pullman

“We are so happy to be here today on this religious holiday of Good Friday to celebrate our GoFundMe was very successful,” said Cindy McMahon with the Historic Pullman Foundation.

Historic Pullman District residents pulled together to raise over $20,000 dollars to pay for a People’s Gas bill that would restore gas service to the historic Greenstone Methodist Church. The 144-year-old church has gone through two winters without heat.

“Even though there are people here of different faiths and things and different religious traditions, we all consider this our church,” Pullman resident Roderick Lewis said. “And so, whenever they need something, the call goes out and we respond.”

With almost all of it’s original fixtures, Greenstone is the last Pullman building that was built for it’s intended use, and residents said they will fight to keep it that way.

The Greenstone Church will be open to the public on May 17 and 18 for Pullman Railroad days.

In the meantime, St. Thomas More Parishioners will celebrate their last Easter mass on Sunday. They hold our hope the Archdiocese will have a change of heart.