Crystal Lake, founded in 1914, has rich history all around. From old Victorian homes and Algonquin brick buildings to the Crystal Lake terracotta decorating storefronts downtown, the city still offers reminders of what life was like in the early years. One such place really stands out as a reminder of not only what life was like all that time ago, but also the amazing community that built this city.
That place is the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake.
Founded in 1842, well before Crystal Lake was officially incorporated, the church has long been a part of the city’s history. Some of the names etched into its stained-glass windows, like Dike, Pierson, Gates, and Pomeroy, can also be found on our street signs and in our public spaces. These were the early settlers who helped shape the town, and their legacy lives on in more ways than one.
The congregation’s first sanctuary was built in 1849 on the northwest corner of Virginia Street and McHenry Avenue. The current church building, completed in 1867, was funded in part by those same founding families. Inside, the original 1,586-pound bell which was installed in 1875, still rings out from the steeple, once said to be heard as far away as Barrington and Marengo.
The church has stood the test of time, both literally and figuratively. The original structure, erected in 1867 still opens its doors every Sunday. In 1850, the church publicly condemned slavery. During the Civil War, it sent its pastor to serve as chaplain to the 72nd Illinois Regiment. In the 1930s, when the Great Depression closed local banks and wiped out their funds, the church kept going thanks to a timely gift from a longtime community member. Through all of it, the church remained a place of gathering, resilience, and service.
Today, that legacy is continuing with a major restoration project that honors the church’s history while preparing the building for the future. The congregation has raised more than $2.3 million for renovations, quite an impressive feat, and the work is being done with an eye toward both preservation and progress. The goal is to retain the beauty and integrity of the historic sanctuary while updating it to better serve today’s needs.
That includes upgrading HVAC and lighting systems for energy efficiency, installing solar panels, and enhancing audio-visual technology to reach those attending services in person and online. Accessibility is also a priority, with improvements that will make the space more welcoming and usable for people of all abilities.
Leading the church today is Senior Pastor Eric Fistler, who sees the restoration as a natural extension of the church’s mission. “This building has served so many generations before us,” Fistler says. “We want it to be ready to serve generations still to come, not just as a church, but as a home for the wider community.”
The restoration isn’t just about the needs of the church’s members. It reflects the congregation’s broader mission of being a safe and welcoming space for the entire community. First Congregational has long been involved in civic efforts, from founding Friendship House daycare in the 1960s to helping establish the Crystal Lake Food Pantry in the 1980s. The church also founded the Lakeside Festival, which began as a humble spaghetti dinner and has since grown into McHenry County’s largest community event. And what all these efforts have in common is that once up and running successfully, the church quietly backs away and lets them shine on their own and continue to serve all members of the community.
As the church looks to the future, it continues to embrace its role as a space for all people, regardless of background, orientation, or belief. That commitment to inclusion was formalized in 2015, when it declared itself an “Open and Affirming” congregation. It’s a value that’s shaping everything from building design to programming.
Inside the sanctuary, one of the newer additions is a memorial art piece called “Cloud of Witnesses.” Created during the pandemic, the piece features ribbons marked with the names of loved ones lost and serves as a reminder that those who came before are still present in spirit. The artwork, designed by local artists Barbara Schneider and William Schmiel, moves with the air in the sanctuary, an ever-present symbol of memory and connection.
Music also plays a big role in life at First Congregational. The church’s music program includes choirs for every age, from preschoolers to adults. The Jubilate Adult Handbell Choir, led by Toni Gambini, recently earned a spot to perform at the Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar in Connecticut, a rare honor for a volunteer church group. Many of the ringers have been part of the church’s music program since childhood, a testament to how deeply music is woven into this community.
Whether you’ve attended a festival on the lawn, admired the steeple from the sidewalk, or heard the bells ring on a Sunday morning, chances are you’ve felt the presence of First Congregational Church in some way, whether you realized it or not. It has been a steady presence in Crystal Lake for more than 175 years, not just as a house of worship, but as a living reminder of the values, generosity, and resilience that helped build the city.
Thanks to its ongoing restoration, it’s not just preserving the past, it’s making sure that legacy continues well into the future in a thoughtful and inclusive way.
“This building has served so many generations before us. We want it to be ready to serve generations still to come.”