About Us

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Before the church, there was the hospital.

In 1896, Dr. David and Dr. Mary Paulson established a small

Training School and Sanitarium on Wabash Avenue in

Chicago.  A patient, Charles B. Kimball, insisted they should

have a sanitarium in the country where the patients could

enjoy clean air and country life.

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Answers through prayer

One day Kimball said to Paulson, “Doctor, you ought

to open a sanitarium in Hinsdale. That is a beautiful town.

There is a piece of property out there that is just the thing

for a sanitarium. Paulson, I tell you what I will do; I will

buy this ground and deed it to your people and you can

pay for it in twenty yearly installments without any interest.” (1)

Even though the cost was $16,000, Paulson saw the

hand of Providence working. On May 4, 1904, the Paulsons
moved into the smaller of two large houses on the 10-acre

Beckwith estate that had been abandoned for seven years.

Without money, but with a conviction in their hearts, they

launched out in obedience to Divine guidance. Whenever

money was needed, the Paulsons gathered the employees
together to pray, and somehow the exact amount needed

always appeared.

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Meeting together

From the beginning, the hospital employees, all Seventh-day

Adventists, met together every Sabbath. Three years later,

on October 12, 1907, in the Oak Street Parlor of the Hinsdale

Sanitarium, a church was organized with 48 members. 

Dr. David Paulson served as the first minister. Soon a chaplain

joined the Sanitarium staff and became the pastor. Patients

often shared time with church members for vespers,

stereopticon (projected lantern) lectures, home talent programs,

and chamber music concerts. (1) Century: Hinsdale Hospital

1904-2004.

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Plans for a church building

Church members met in various parts of the Sanitarium for

40 years. In 1942 the Hinsdale Sanitarium and Hospital set

aside the southeast corner lot at Oak and Walnut for a church

building. Plans were developed for a $75,000 building, but

World War II delayed construction and inflated building costs

to $125,000.

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Growing membership

Members met in the first church sanctuary on February 15,

1947. The building, with seating for 544, was dedicated on

 

Grand opening

An Expansion Committee was formed in 1963 but it wasn’t

until 1968 that construction began on the present church
building. Grand opening services were held in February 1970.

The sanctuary was designed to accommodate 1,000 people,
with a chapel opening to the sanctuary for 250 more. Long

windows of handmade European antique stained glass were
installed. Built in a contemporary Gothic style with a limestone

exterior, the design complemented the former church 

(converted to hospital health care needs). The final cost came

to  $1,186,788. Membership growth continued and reached
1,327 in 1984. As the congregation evolved, its facilities and

ministries adapted as well. To create an environment where

the unchurched feel comfortable, a contemporary worship 

service called 180° Going in New Directions was added in 1997. 

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Major interior renovation

In 1999, the church went through major interior renovation. The

most visible changes involved extending the rostrum, installing
waterfall stairs, and changing chapel seating from pews to chairs.

The hospital, now UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale,

has provided the church with two outstanding gifts: the Rodgers
Organ in 2000 and the Steinway concert grand piano in 2004, commemorating the hospital’s centennial.

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Focus on community

Through the years, there have been many evangelistic series,

sacred concerts, cooking classes, stop-smoking clinics, health

lectures, parenting workshops, financial seminars, and
international tours.

Members still embark on mission trips, both short and long term.

Recently, a group spent 12 days in Honduras doing medical

work in remote villages and specialized construction at the

Pan American Health Services compound.

With a distinct focus on community outreach, volunteers help

distribute food from a food bank truck, donate to the local food

pantry, package Christmas boxes and baskets, conduct healthy

vegetarian cooking classes, lead Vacation Bible schools, and

hold archeological and biblical seminars.