Modern Beauty: St. James Lutheran Church

Making It Home Timeline
Modern Beauty: St. James Lutheran Church
The 1965 church with the 1980 addition. Photo courtesy of St. James Lutheran Church.

The 1965 church with the 1980 addition. Photo courtesy of St. James Lutheran Church.

Construction of the new sanctuary, 1989.

Construction of the new sanctuary, 1989.

Brilliant colors and designs of a window in the sanctuary.

Brilliant colors and designs of a window in the sanctuary.

Located on Waukegan Road, St. James Lutheran Church is a newer congregation than some others in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, but has rapidly grown. Meetings were first held in the Lake Bluff Junior High School in 1962 until when, in 1965, construction on the new church building began. Designed by architects Buderus and Sunshine, the church was built with a steeply peaked roof, that, from the inside, resembled an inverted bow of a ship. The former sanctuary is now used as a space for fellowship.
In 1980, to accommodate the now more than 500-person congregation, an educational wing was added to the church. The sanctuary was remodeled in 1989, and boasts a large glass skylight and copper roof. Stained glass windows were added in 1990, and are geometric and “reminiscent of our childhood kaleidoscope in design,” according to members. An organ was also installed at this time.
St. James was also the first church in Lake Forest to have a female pastor; Rev. Barbara S. Gazzolo joined the staff in 1982. She retired from her position in 2005 after 22 years.Congregation members play a large role in worship at St. James, because it is what is known as a “liturgical congregation” and emphasizes community involvement in worship; in fact, the word “liturgy” means “of the people.” Members may act in roles which include being acolytes, ushers or assistant ministers, and may perform in choirs during any given service.