Main Baptist Church Unveils New, Larger Facility On 7 Acres

AURORA, IL — Main Baptist Church, the second-oldest Black church in Aurora, ushered in its next era Sunday when it unveiled its new 32,000-square-foot location under development.

Founded in 1867, Main Baptist Church will move from 814 E. Galena Blvd. where it has lived for more than 60 years to a facility on 7 acres about two miles east, at 2170 E. New York St.

A crowd gathered Sunday to cut the ribbon, unveil the church's new electronic sign and see the location being developed.

The multi-level building formerly housed several car dealerships for decades. The church's future home will be known as The Unity Center, according to city officials.

"I recognize that Main Baptist has been blessing Aurora, praying for Aurora since 1867," Mayor Richard Irvin said at the ceremony. "That's a whole lot of praying; that's a whole lot of saving lives and saving souls."

The new site will be active seven days a week and include an 860-seat worship sanctuary, an innovation and education center, a small business incubator, classrooms for community education, a coffee shop with free wifi, second-floor office space, and a rooftop gathering space.

"We are building capital today for a brighter future tomorrow," Senior Pastor Julian Spencer said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. "Today marks the beginning of the work we will do on the inside of this building to transform it from a car dealership to a place we deal with saving souls."