Eureka Church.
Branches:	ACCA
Date Founded:	1896-1940; 1957
Attendance 2025:	346
Address:	700 W. Cruger Avenue
Website:	Eurekaacchurch.org

History

As early as 1896, a church building was constructed in Eureka, Illinois. The congregation remained an integral part of the Roanoke church located six miles northeast of town on the vast prairie between Eureka and Roanoke. The Roanoke church was founded by Benedict Weyeneth, the first American Elder, and was attended by Eureka and Roanoke people. It was a common sight late in the nineteenth century to see people walking from the villages of Roanoke and Eureka to the church on the prairie.

In order to better accommodate brethren who lived in Eureka, a small meeting house was built in that village. This was primarily used for midweek services. On Sundays the brethren would travel to the country church for worship services. The Eureka building was not used for Sunday services unless the roads were bad or the weather was unusually inclement. A similar church was built in Roanoke for the same purpose. The little church in Eureka at 107 North Meyers Street was built in 1896 on property donated by Henry B. Schumacher. Early ministers were John W. Schmidt (who first occupied the pulpit), Carl Haecker, Samuel Schumacher, and Leo Grusy. It is said, George Haecker, Carl Haecker’s eldest son, remembers assisting Albert Hinnen in this project and digging the trenches for the foundation for the first church.

In the early 1940’s, with the invention of the automobile and better roads, there was a decline in the use of the church in Eureka. Both midweek and Sunday services were held at the Roanoke country church, which was now easily accessible from Eureka. The old church in Eureka was vacated in 1950. The next year it was moved to 514 West Center Street and converted into a residence.

The Roanoke congregation had become very large. It had grown from approximately 350 members in 1929 to over 600 members in the early 1950’s. It was decided on February 14, 1955, to build a new church in Eureka out of convenience. This would alleviate the space problem at Roanoke and provide a more central location of worshipfor the growing number of brethren in the Eureka area.

On March 21, 1956, ground was broken for the new church on West Cruger Street. This church is situated in the southwest corner of Eureka on a three and one-half acre site. This structure of brick, stone, steel and laminated wood had a seating capacity of 700.

In 1982, the Eureka church had grown to 220 members. However, by the late 1980’s, crowded conditions were being experienced in certain areas of the Eureka Church. On October 11, 1994, ground was broken to provide a new ground-level dining room, expanded baby rooms, Sunday school rooms, and fellowship area. On September 24, 1995, the congregation was able to enjoy our first Sunday using the new facilities.

The church continued to grow and by year 2000, the church had 419 members. By 2004, the church membership had grown to 430 members and by early 2006, the church had 458 members. In 2010, due to crowded conditions in the baby room, it was decided to remodel the basement to accommodate an additional baby room with sleeping rooms.

By 2012, differences and attitudes among church members across much of the Apostolic Christian church denomination, had reached a point that led to an unfortunate schism. In August 2012, a number of the members chose not to assemble with the Eureka congregation and split from the National Apostolic Christian Church denomination. The remaining members and friends continued to gather on Sundays and Wednesday evening’s to hear the truth and be strengthened thereby and to encourage each other.

In 2019, an interior update was completed to the entire main floor and balcony. New carpet was installed in the assembly and dining room. The benches in the assembly were shortened to provide more room in the aisles and were spaced apart to provide more movement between benches. The pulpit woodwork was replaced and a new stone back wall was added to the baptismal area.

Ministers

Ministers
Name	Born	Baptized	Minister	Deacon	Elder	Retired	Wife	Notes

Attendance

Attendance
Year	Total	Members	Sunday School		Year	Total	Members	Sunday School