Preserving
HISTORIC SECOND CHURCH
UPCOMING EVENTS
TOURS
Friends of Historic Second Church invites you to experience the architectural treasures of Second Presbyterian Church. Tours are free, and donations are welcome.
We offer free public guided tours three days a week, private group tours scheduled in advance (a fee is required), and a self-guided tour whenever the church is open.
NEWS
In 2025, Friends of Historic Second Church was recognized for stewardship by Landmarks Illinois
Read the September17, 2025, article from WTTW News.
CURRENT RESTORATION WORK
Friends of Historic Second Church exists to preserve, restore, and educate
Second Presbyterian Church is a Chicago architectural gem dating to 1874. Architect James Renwick designed the Gothic Revival exterior, and Howard Van Doren Shaw and Frederic Clay Bartlett redesigned the interior in the Arts and Crafts style in 1901.
Stunning memorial windows made by William Morris & Company, Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company, Tiffany Studios, McCully & Miles, and Louis J. Millet enhance the Church's interior. Original Bartlett murals, light fixtures and 175 angels grace the space.
In 2013, Second Presbyterian Church was designated a National Historic Landmark in recognition of its Arts and Crafts interior. This designation is reserved for buildings and sites that are determined by the Secretary of the Interior to possess national significance in American culture and history.
Our mission is to preserve and restore the art and architecture of Chicago’s landmark Second Presbyterian Church and to engage neighbors and the world in sharing our passion for its beauty and significance.
Please visit and join us in maintaining this historically significant architectural treasure.
RESTORATION
Friends’ mission is to preserve and restore the internationally recognized art and architecture of Chicago’s landmark Second Presbyterian Church and to educate a worldwide audience about its historical and cultural significance.
Sanctuary photo credit: James Caulfield and all other photos by Martin Cheung