About Us

175th Anniversary Celebrations

January 1, 2011 - 5:30pm

Log school in Downers GroveOur church was founded in 1836, when Revd Stephen Beggs added Downers Grove to his circuit, only four years after the settlement was first established by Pierce Downer. Throughout 2011, we will be celebrating our heritage as the first organized church in Downers Grove. You can read about some of the key milestones in our history here.

The following events will form a part of our celebrations this year:

January

  • Distribution of the pictorial directory
  • Hymn of the Month in Worship
  • Monthly display in parlor

February

  • Potluck and old fashion hymn sing on February 27th at 4pm.
  • Hymn of the Month in Worship
  • Monthly display in parlor

March

  • Display of the baby quilts and lap quilts being made for charity
  • Hymn of the Month in Worship
  • Monthly display in parlor 

April

  • Bishop Jung bringing the Easter message on Sunday, April at 8:15, 9:30 and 11AM
  • Hymn of the Month in Worship
  • Monthly display in parlor

Join the DGFUMC Online Community

WebsiteWe invite all church members to join the DGFUMC online community by creating their own accounts. You can then add your own comments to news articles, blog entries, and event postings, giving us your own thoughts on what is happening in our church. If you represent a Work Area or other church body, contact the webmaster to request the ability to add your own news articles and events.

Please join in and stay connected!

Welcome Back!

December 26, 2010 - 3:19pm

Welcome to the new DGFUMC website. It has been redesigned to create an online community in a way that the old website couldn't. We invite all church members to join us by creating their own accounts using the menu links on the left. You can then add your own comments to news articles, blog entries, and event postings, giving us your own thoughts on what is happening in our church.

Please use your real name as your user name (with spaces; e.g., Jane Doe), to keep spammers out. Your email will not be displayed publicly but, if you choose, you can allow other people to contact you using an online form, without revealing your address.

You can still view event archives and old photo albums by clicking on the links on the left. If you find any problems (missing pages, confusing links, inaccurate content) or have any other comments about how to improve the website, please let us know.

Please join in and stay connected as we enter our 175th anniversary year. Wishing you a blessed Christmas season and God's peace in the New Year.

Church Building

Basement

DGFUMC Basement

First Floor

DGFUMC First Floor

Second Floor

DGFUMC Second Floor

E Elevator     W Women's Restroom     M Men's Restroom     F Family Restroom

Church Library

Pile of booksThe church library is located in Room 116 and is available to all members. The books, including novels, biography and non-fiction, have a mainly religious focus and are checked out and returned on an honor system.

Book donations are always welcome.

The Church Librarian is Mary Beth Weeks.

Welcome

First United Methodist Church, Downers GroveAbout Us

Established in 1836, the Downers Grove First United Methodist Church (DGFUMC) has grown to be a vital leader in our community. We offer many programs in Christian education for children, youth, and adults to serve our 1,000+ member congregation.

More than 150 children attend Sunday School classes and there are currently 80 three and four year olds enrolled in the First United Methodist Preschool, which meets every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Our children, youth, and adult choirs lead worship in songs of praise, both classical and contemporary. Since 1971, the high school Chapel Choir has traveled around the country each year to deliver a Christian message to other churches. We also have two handbell choirs that ring out hymns of faith, and have a worship praise band.

DGFUMC offers a warm and friendly environment while also offering a wealth of opportunities for personal spiritual growth.

Community Outreach

Our congregation is involved in Alex's Mission, the People's Resource Center Food Pantry, DuPage Pads to help make a difference in the lives of community members.

Our church helps provide food  each week October through May for those who receive services from DuPage Pads, an organization who helps to provide shelter and food for the homeless of DuPage County. We also actively participate in Bridge Communities to help transition homeless families to self sufficiency. Our participation involves providing mentoring, financial, and emotional support of families for two years, as they work to move to an independent and hope-filled future.

Church Location

The First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove, 1032 Maple Avenue, is located on the southern edge of the downtown Downers Grove business district. The Church is a few hundred feet west of the intersection of Maple Avenue and Main Street.

For driving directions, call (630) 968-7120 or click here.

A History of Our Church

The 1838 Log SchoolIn 1832 Pierce Downer established the settlement soon known as Downers Grove. By 1836 the settlers decided that the 7 mile trip to Cass Church was too far to travel, especially in winter. Reverend Stephen Beggs agreed to add Downers Grove to his circuit and the first Methodist Church was formed, becoming the first organized church in Downers Grove. In 1838, a log school was built on Maple Street near Carpenter and served as the church on Sunday mornings – or whenever Reverend Beggs could get there.

By the 1850’s the village had grown and so had the Methodist congregation. Log cabins were being replaced by clapboard cottages. In 1852 Henry Carpenter donated land and $20 to build a Methodist church. Samuel and Mary Curtiss were each paid $20 for adjacent land. Although there is no picture of the first church, a written description stating “men dragged logs to the carpenter shop from which to cut lumber” is evidence that it was a frame building. A photo of the succeeding church shows the rubble of this first building. In 1864, the year the railroad came to Downers Grove, the church was still on the circuit of Downers Grove, Barber’s Corners, Lyonsville and Cass. The Downers Grove Church paid the pastor $59 per quarter.

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Welcome

God, as known to us in Jesus Christ, welcomes all.

We welcome people of any race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, social or economic status, employment status, or life situation; including people with physical or mental illness or disability.

We practice loving acceptance of each person and respectful discussion
Reconciling Ministries Network of our differences.

Affiliated to Reconciling Ministries Network

First United Methodist Church 1032 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515 - Phone: 630.968.7120 - E-mail: dgfumc@dgfumc.org

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