July Calendar Spotlight: First Baptist Congregational Church Facade Restoration

Our featured calendar project for July is the bell tower repairs for First Baptist Congregational Church at 1613 West Washington in the United Center Park neighborhood. The end result showcases BAMR’s deep expertise in historic stone restoration.

Originally designed by architect Gurdon P. Randall between 1869 and 1871, this Gothic Revival structure, located west of Union Park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as an official City of Chicago Landmark. To protect its architectural legacy, the congregation was awarded an Adopt-A-Landmark grant from the City of Chicago to fund its critical stabilization.

Standing at more than 250 feet tall, the tower faced severe weathering. Decades of Chicago weather had caused the original sedimentary Lemont limestone to spall, creating open joints that allowed water infiltration. Because Lemont limestone is no longer quarried, the BACR team sourced Silverdale limestone as a visually and structurally compatible replacement, utilizing artisanal stone retooling to blend the new masonry with the historic facade seamlessly.

The restoration required a strategic blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern material engineering. Beyond extensive repointing and stone replacement, the team swapped structurally compromised stone louvers with custom-fabricated Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) engineered to match the original aesthetic. Additionally, the spire’s aged slate roof was replaced with durable synthetic slate, and the building’s historic art-glass windows were stabilized and repaired.

Through meticulous material matching and specialized high-elevation craftsmanship, the team successfully secured the structural integrity of this 150-year-old landmark. The completed restoration delivers a stabilized, beautifully preserved asset for the church congregation and surrounding community, ensuring its presence continues to inspire for generations to come.