Falling Membership: La Grange Church Needs Tenants To Survive

LA GRANGE, IL – The pastor of La Grange's First Congregational Church says her church needs tenants to make ends meet.

At a village meeting last month, the Rev. Carly Stucklen Sather said the church faced a difficult financial situation when she arrived in 2014, according to meeting minutes.

The church's membership was once 1,200 three decades ago, but dropped to 400 over time, she said. She told Patch that it increased by 100 families in recent times.

She was speaking to the village's Plan Commission because it was considering a request to allow a school in the building.

In late August, the village said it became aware of the Tallgrass Sudbury School, which used to be in Riverside, operating on the first floor of the church, which is at 100 Sixth Ave.

The school had failed to get a village permit, according to the village.

At the Nov. 14 Plan Commission meeting, Sather said her church is finding nonprofit tenants that align with its mission. She noted the church has flown a pride flag in front and has been an "open and affirming" congregation since 1999.

The rent is at cost, with the hope that such income covers 65 percent of the building's upkeep, she said.

Sather told the commission that La Grange School District 105 leased space for students for five years. During that time, she said, the building was upgraded to make it more secure.

She said the church needs tenants to exist, according to the meeting minutes.

The Plan Commission voted unanimously to allow the school, with conditions.

The conditions include limiting the student body to 45 students, which is 11 more than the school reported in November. The commission said the village should allow no more than three students to drive to the church.

The conditions were the result of concerns about traffic and parking.

On Monday, the Village Board plans to vote on the school's permit.