As one of Mount Carmel’s many surrounding institutions, the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago lies just two blocks away from campus.  Dedicated to serving the South Side, the church’s current mission of service and prayer continues to add to a proud history dating back to 1832.

The congregation first met within the walls of Fort Dearborn on the banks of the Chicago River.  Later, it established a separate identity and built its first church building in the current downtown area of Chicago, before eventually relocating to the South Side in 1928.   During the early year’s of the institution, members were active in the abolition movement and founded the first public school in the city.

Now located at 6400 Kimbark Avenue, this integrated church community continues to emphasize values of service and social justice, even though the congregation is small. For example, every Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 pm, over 50 people are provided lunch in the church’s cafeteria.  On Thursdays, canned goods – and in season, fresh produce from church’s two vegetable gardens are distributed from the church’s food pantry.  This January, several Mount Carmel sophomores will have the opportunity to support the church’s outreach programs during Sophomore Impact Week.

At the beginning of every summer, First Presbyterian Church also is one of the institutional sponsors of an annual “Hunger Walk” which takes place on the South Side.  The event raises awareness of hunger, and encourages people to support the cause each year.

Like St. Martin de Porres and the Apostolic Church of Christ, First Presbyterian Church represents another example of a nearby neighbor which has been an anchor of the Woodlawn community for generations.