On the South Side of Chicago, the Little Flower Church, once a vibrant Catholic parish, now sits in a state of disrepair. The limestone edifice at the heart of the Auburn Gresham neighborhood has captured the attention of preservationists and locals alike, with calls to salvage the historical structure. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the church has been vacant for years and was recently foreclosed upon, with a Minnesota LLC purchasing the mortgage in 2023.
Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, lamented the building's condition, telling the Chicago Sun-Times, "This church was a real mainstay and cornerstone of the community for so long." The organization is campaigning for landmark status for the church, having succeeded in similar endeavors, such as with St. Adalbert Parish in Pilsen. Despite its current state of decay, locals remember the church fondly, noting that a weekly food pantry operated in its halls. An urban explorer, drawn in by the decaying grandeur of Little Flower Church, highlighted the intact details of the church's architecture, including the stained-glass windows and marble pillars, in a video posted to a popular Instagram page.
Ald. David Moore of the 17th ward expressed his support for the preservation efforts, stating to the Chicago Sun-Times, "I hope we can preserve that history of the Auburn Gresham community with this church." Moore's efforts have been hampered by difficulties in reaching the congregation, which had earlier purchased the church from the archdiocese but later vacated the premises.
Despite its neglected state, community members see the potential for the building to transform into a community resource. Maggi Cole, a lifelong Auburn Gresham resident, voiced a common sentiment: "It’s an eyesore to the community in its current condition," she mentioned in a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. Neighbors envision the church reborn as a hub for mental health services, afterschool programs, or daycare. As there is no demolition permit pending against the old church, according to a statement from the city's Department of Buildings observed by the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board, there's hope that, like the former Church of the Epiphany, which now thrives as a performance venue, Little Flower might too find a second life.
