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The Church and the Afghan Whigs Announce Summer 2024 Co-Headlining Tour

By Nina Corcoran

The Church and the Afghan Whigs and have announced a co-headlining tour of North America. The shows begin in June and will feature Ed Harcourt as support, with Kristin Hersh subbing in as the opener in Brooklyn. Find the full list of tour dates below.

Though it’s their first time touring together, both bands have long been admirers of each other’s music. “I was an 18-year-old college freshman laying in bed listening to WVXU late one night when I heard a song that I described later as sounding like David Bowie fronting the Byrds,” said Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli. “It was official. I loved the Church. Three years later, the four kids who were about to become the Afghan Whigs played ‘One Day’ by the Church in John Curley’s living room and we were off and running.”

The Afghan Whigs dropped their most recent album, How Do You Burn? , in 2022. It’s the band’s third album since reforming in the early 2010s, after In Spades and Do to the Beast .

The Church rolled out The Hypnogogue last year. They sold a companion album, Eros Zeta and the Perfumed Guitars , at concerts, and that LP is now getting a wide release on March 29. Listen to a radio edit of the new song “ A Strange Past ” below.

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The Church & The Afghan Whigs:

06-18 Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre * 06-20 Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Paramount ^ 06-21 Boston, MA - The Royale * 06-22 Washington, D.C. - Lincoln Theatre * 06-24 Toronto, Ontario - Danforth Music Hall * 06-25 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre * 06-27 Indianapolis, IN - Hi-Fi Annex * 06-28 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre *  06-30 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue * 07-02 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre * 07-03 Bellvue, CO - The Mishawaka * 07-05 Seattle, WA - The Showbox * 07-06 Portland, OR - McMenamins Crystal Ballroom * 07-09 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore * 07-11 San Diego, CA - The Observatory North Park * 07-12 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues Anaheim * 07-13 Los Angeles, CA - The United Theater on Broadway *

* with Ed Harcourt ^ with Kristin Hersh

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Live Review: The Church at Thalia Hall • Chicago

The Church, 2023

Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Review by Jeff Elbel

Australian psychedelic rockers The Church returned to Chicago following a five-year absence, playing to a full house at the Pilsen neighborhood’s Thalia Hall on Sunday. A selection of captivating new songs honored the band’s beloved sound while carrying it forward. Some of the new textures and tones arrived naturally by the presence of new players in the lineup since the last visit by founding frontman Steve Kilbey and his crew. Kilbey was in high spirits throughout the evening, telling stories to connect listeners with songs from their new concept album The Hypnogogue and dispensing praise for his trusted bandmates. Kilbey’s mood even fueled a grateful tribute to the tour’s intrepid bus driver Joe, who recently kept the band from harm despite icy roads and a dangerously close encounter with a big rig. The singer improvised new lyrics for Jimi Hendrix’ “Hey Joe,” accompanied by quick-on-the-draw guitarist Ian Haug.

Depending upon your count, The Hypnogogue is the band’s 26 th album. Its songs were strewn through the main set, which opened with the intoxicating new “Ascendence.” The strong response made it clear that many fans were ready for more than The Church’s greatest hits, which wasn’t lost on a grateful Kilbey. “I can’t tell you how great it is when people like the new songs,” he said mid-set. “It’s really a good thing.”

The Church at Thalia Hall (Photo Jeff Ebel)

Older favorites were delivered with flair. “Destination” from 1988’s Starfish was moody and turbulent, with guitars divided among Haug, Jeffrey Cain, and (in his first Chicago date with the Church) Ashley Naylor. Kilbey invited fans to cast their minds back to 1990 before continuing. “You might have heard this song emanating from a transistor radio in a window somewhere,” he said as the band began “Metropolis” with its carnivalesque imagery. The intoxicating chime and shimmer of Heyday track “Columbus” followed. Departed co-founder Peter Koppes’ territory was frequently covered by recently added bandmember and The Hypnogogue contributor Naylor, whose style produced perhaps the most identifiable evolution to the band’s sound while playing its familiar hooks.

“We had the audacity, gall, and sheer nerve to make a new album. I have to tell ya, it’s a fuckin’ masterpiece,” said Kilbey afterward, drawing supportive laughter and applause. “You know I’m a modest guy,” he added.

Kilbey established the storyline woven through songs from The Hypnogogue , a psychedelic, psychological, science-fiction song cycle. The Hypnogogue itself has been developed by Korean inventor Sun Kim Jong and is capable of pulling music from a person’s dreams. “It drags songs straight out of people’s heads and sends them straight up the charts,” explained Kilbey. The central character is Eros Zeta, a fading rock star who learns of Sun Kim Jong’s fantastic creation. “Of course, he falls in love with her,” says Kilbey, introducing the romantic “No Other You.” “It’s one of my favorite songs we’ve ever done,” added the singer and bassist.

Read IE’s February, 2023 Cover Story with The Church

Despite its relative unfamiliarity among the audience, the title track “The Hypnogogue” was a highlight of the set, weaving a mysterious and foreboding spell. The song described Zeta’s eagerness to enter the Hypnogogue in order to revive his fortunes and his bitter regret after getting what he desired. As it turns out, the Hypnogogue exacts a devastating price on its users.

Other favorites included the stately “Kings” from Priest=Aura and “Hotel Womb.” “Old Coast Road” from 2014’s Further/Deeper was revisited in a sparkling acoustic arrangement featuring Naylor and Haug on 12-string guitars in addition to multi-instrumentalist Cain’s six-string guitar and Kilbey’s six-string bass. “36 strings,” said Kilbey. “That’s value for money, right there.” The stripped accompaniment highlighted the song’s winsome Laurel Canyon melody.

Kilbey explained that the reflective and atmospheric “Albert Ross” eulogized Zeta’s guitar tech, lost forever within the Hypnogogue.

Next, it was time for another backward glance. “In 1983, I thought I was Percy Bysshe Shelley with a better haircut,” quipped Kilbey. “I had so much eye makeup that even pandas laughed at me. I had a mountain of paisley shirts.” He went on to tell the story of his American record label’s dissatisfaction with early fan favorite Séance . “It’s depressing!” Kilbey recounted being told before being cursed at and hung up on. Longtime devotees were nonetheless elated to receive rarely heard chestnuts “Fly” and “One Day.” New band member Nicholas Meredith’s assured drumming propelled an engaging version of the melancholy but tuneful “Comedown.” Kilbey introduced the song with another amusingly concocted anecdote, saying that the song was about his ravenous addiction as a four-year-old to chocolate biscuits and his mother’s stern disapproval.

The main set concluded with a string of heavy hitters, as pop gem “Under the Milky Way” led to Gold Afternoon Fix favorite “Grind” (a song that has consistently sprung majestically to life in concert, surpassing its recorded version) and culminating with a senses-shattering “Tantalized” as Haug slashed through the song’s furious riff. Dubbed “the noisy song” by Kilbey, the frantic Heyday favorite was anchored with power and conviction by Meredith’s drums. Veteran producer and drummer Tim Powles was sidelined for this tour due to visa issues but was said to have appointed Meredith directly. The band reportedly intends to continue with both percussionists, offering future audiences the opportunity to experience yet another reinvented approach to the Church’s sound.

The Church encored by answering requests for the sinewy “Reptile” and finishing with The Blurred Crusade ’s “You Took,” performed with unbridled energy at a furious pace. Kilbey took yet another chance to offer thanks to faithful and receptive fans in Chicago. “We’re very grateful,” he said. “We live for applause; that’s all there is.”

Tags: Ash Naylor , Ashley Naylor , featured , Ian Haug , Jeff Elbel , Jeffrey Cain , Nicholas Meredith , Peter Koppes , Steve Kilbey , The Church at Thalia Hall Chicago 2023 , The Church live review 2023 tour , Tim Powles

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• March 26, 2023 Setlist

The Church Setlist at Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL, USA

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Tour: The Hypnogogue World Tour 2023 Tour statistics Add setlist

• Ascendence Play Video
• Destination Play Video
• Metropolis Play Video
• Columbus Play Video
• No Other You Play Video
• Kings Play Video
• Is This Where You Live Play Video
• The Hypnogogue Play Video
• Hotel Womb Play Video
• Antarctica Play Video
• Old Coast Road Play Video
• Albert Ross Play Video
• Fly Play Video
• One Day Play Video
• Comedown Play Video
• C'est la vie Play Video
• Under the Milky Way Play Video
• Grind Play Video
• Tantalized Play Video
• Second Bridge Play Video
• Reptile Play Video
• You Took Play Video

Edits and Comments

3 activities (last edit by Hunkpapa , 27 Mar 2023, 17:11 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Albert Ross
• C'est la vie
• No Other You
• Second Bridge
• The Hypnogogue
• Destination
• Under the Milky Way
• Old Coast Road
• Is This Where You Live

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The Church Gig Timeline

• Mar 23 2023 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN, USA Add time Add time
• Mar 25 2023 Delmar Hall St. Louis, MO, USA Add time Add time
• Mar 26 2023 Thalia Hall This Setlist Chicago, IL, USA Add time Add time
• Mar 28 2023 Kent Stage Kent, OH, USA Add time Add time
• Mar 29 2023 The Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA, USA Start time: 8:20 PM 8:20 PM

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The Church Announces Spring 2023 U.S. Tour Dates

Bailey DeSchutter

[READ FULL BIO]

The Church announces second leg of U.S. tour in support of “The Hypnogogue”

The Church will return to the United States this fall for a second round of dates in support of the band’s 26th studio album  The Hypnogogue — a run of 25 shows that opens in late September and continues through early November.

The band, which played 20 dates in the U.S. in March and April , opens the newly announced shows Sept. 28 in Seattle and continues through a pair of concerts in Evanston, Illinois, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Head over to thechurchband.net for full ticket information.

The new album is The Church’s first since the 2020 departure of founding guitarist Peter Koppes , leaving singer-bassist Steve Kilbey as the only original member of the band. He’s joined by longtime Church drummer Tim Powles, guitarists Ian Haug and Ashley Naylor, and multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Cain.

Here are the new tour dates:

The Church U.S. tour dates 2023

Sept. 28: Seattle, WA — Neptune Theater Oct. 2: Ventura, CA — Ventura Music Hall Oct. 4: Pomona, CA — The Glass House Oct. 5: Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl Oct. 6: Chandler, AZ — The Showroom at Wild Horse Pass Oct. 7: Santa Fe, NM — The Lesnic Oct. 9: Omaha, NE — The Waiting Room Oct. 11: Ferndale, MI — The Magic Bag Oct. 12: State College, PA — State Theater Oct. 13: Covington, KY — Madison Theatre Oct. 14: Atlanta, GA — Variety Playhouse Oct. 15: Birmingham, AL — Saturn Oct. 17: Ponte Vedra, FL — Ponte Vedra Concert Hall Oct. 18: Orlando, FL — The Abbey Oct. 19: Clearwater, FL — Capitol Theatre Oct. 20: Fort Lauderdale, FL — Culture Room Oct. 21: Fort Lauderdale, FL — Culture Room Oct. 23: Pensacola, FL — Vinyl Music Room Oct. 24: New Orleans, LA — House of Blues Oct. 26: Austin, TX — Levitation Festival Oct. 27: Houston, TX — Heights Theater Oct. 28: Dallas, TX — Kessler Theater Oct. 29: Oklahoma City, OK — Tower Theater Oct. 31: Evanston, IL — SPACE Nov. 1: Evanston, IL — SPACE

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

• The Church premieres “No Other You” ahead of “The Hypnogogue” album, U.S. tour
• Peter Koppes leaves The Church ‘to explore his own musical path’ as band preps new album
• The Church will bring its ‘Starfish’ tour back to U.S. this spring for second round of dates
• The Church to celebrate 30th anniversary of ‘Starfish’ on fall North American tour
• The Church’s Steve Kilbey playing ‘weird’ places across western U.S. with Amanda Kramer
• Vintage Video: The Church shines in rare early pro-shot concert footage from 1982

Cannot believe how good their new album is. I’ve bought everything The Church have done since 1980 and incredibly, The Hypnogogue is one of their very best. I can’t think of another band on the planet where album number 26 sits so comfortably alongside their best releases.

Their new album is fantastic!!

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The Church Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre

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Experience a little bit of Rome right near home.

I wanted to let you know how very much we all enjoyed our day.  All of the parents commented on how great it was and how much they enjoyed you.  The kids loved it also.  

Nancy Cagney

Most Holy Redeemer School

Evergreen Park

Christmas Concert

52nd annual christmas in chicago concert, saturday, december 9, 2023 at 2:30pm and 7:00pm.

Celebrate the Christmas season with The Moody Church at our annual Christmas Concert! This event is the highlight of our Christmas season, with classic carols and holiday favorites. Our beautiful Sanctuary is even more stunning with the colorful and dramatic lighting. Every year, people tell us that the concert is one of the best Christmas events in Chicago.  We’ll see you there! Admission and parking are FREE, but tickets are required .

Seating is general admission and available on first-come, first-served basis. A ticket is required for entry but does not reserve a specific seat. Doors open at 1:45pm and 6:15pm for admission; we cannot accommodate early arrivals inside the building. 

Note: The concert will not be broadcast live. We hope you can join us in person for this wonderful experience, along with your family and friends!

Each year, we select a concert beneficiary which receives 100% of financial gifts received at the event. This year, all proceeds will support one of our ministry partners serving the migrant crisis in our city. Learn more about this year’s offering beneficiary. 

2:30pm Concert

• Doors open at 1:45pm*
• Concert begins at 2:30pm*
• Concert ends at 4:00pm

7:00pm Concert

• Doors open at 6:15pm*
• Concert begins at 7:00pm*
• Concert ends at 8:30pm

*Notes: We cannot accommodate early arrivals inside the building. Seats are no longer guaranteed after the start.

Parents and Kids

This performance is not recommended for children under the age of four. If your child needs a break, we will have live video of the concert in an overflow space with bathrooms close by. You won’t miss a thing!

Parking Information

Free parking and shuttle service is available at Moody Bible Institute, one mile south of the church, on a first-come-first-served basis. The parking garage is located at 821 N Wells Street (on the corner of Wells Street and Institute Place). COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE SERVICE will run between the parking garage and The Moody Church.

Parking at MBI is limited, and available on a first-come, first served basis.

Street parking and other convenient self-park locations are nearby. Check for current pricing.

Arrival Information

• Passenger drop-off and main entrance at 1635 North LaSalle Drive.
• Wheelchair Accessible entrance is at 1635 North LaSalle Drive.
• Will Call is on the south deck at 1630 North Clark Street .

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

You’re also invited to join us for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, held at 5:00pm on Sunday, December 24. This simple, beautiful service focuses our attention on the real meaning of the season.   For more information, click here .

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Eleven Churches Not to Miss When You Visit Chicago

In a city shaped by immigrant communities, beautiful historic churches reflect the faith and hard work of generations of Catholics.

July 20, 2012 Jim Graves Uncategorized 0 Print

Chicago is known for its many beautiful and historically significant buildings, not the least of which are its Catholic churches. In the city there are about 365 Catholic churches, which for nearly two centuries have invited the faithful to come and worship their Creator.

This summer, I took a tour of four of these churches in what were originally Polish neighborhoods with Nell Andrzejewski, director of Catholic Church Tours . She refers to Chicago as “Little Rome” because of its many churches built in the old European style. As various immigrant groups came to the United States, they moved into often modest neighborhoods and built grand churches, which would serve as a hub for their communities. And while the ethnicities of these communities would change over time, their houses of worship would endure.

Since Nell began her touring company two years ago, she said, “I’ve fallen in love with the beauty of the Church.”

Each building has something to teach us about the Faith, she continued, and she sees the structures as “poetry in concrete.”

Here are profiles of these four churches, followed by suggestions from Nell and CWR readers of others that are well worth a visit.

St. Mary of the Angels is a parish in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago originally established by Polish immigrants in 1897. The building of the church was delayed for years due to a variety of factors, including shortages of manpower and materials during World War I. The church was finally completed, and Chicago Archbishop (later Cardinal) George Mundelein dedicated the structure in 1920.

It’s an impressive edifice, both inside and out, that sits prominently on the Kennedy Expressway as you head toward downtown Chicago. It is a large church, seating 2,000. If you’re a Steven Seagal fan, St. Mary’s served as the backdrop for his 1988 movie Above the Law .

St. Mary’s is built in the Italian Romanesque style, modeled after churches in Rome. It is cruciform—the shape of a cross—and its exterior features include twin bell towers, a large central dome, and nine-foot statues of angels that surround its rooftop. Its entrance portico is supported by four sets of tall columns; it has images of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt on the right and Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey on the left.

Inside, there is a vast collection of beautiful artwork, a feast for the eyes wherever you look. Features include colorful paintings, statues, and stained glass windows. The interior of the central dome declares, “Glory to God in the Highest and Peace on Earth to Men of Good Will,” with stained glass windows of the 12 Apostles above. As with any historic building, maintenance is a constant challenge; work is currently underway to stabilize the dome. 

You’ll see many statues and images of the saints; one window, for example, features St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata and a statue in the rear has him holding a skull, reminding us of the passing nature of life. To the left of the altar is an image of St. Therese of Lisieux, a new saint when the church was being decorated. You’ll also see images of angels throughout the interior.

The church has a clearly defined theology in its architecture, Nell noted during our tour, with a central focus on the tabernacle. It is relatively rare among American churches in that it still has altar rails, a clear dividing line between the holy place occupied by the congregation and the holy of holies occupied by the priest as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. There is marble on top of the altar rail, which matches the marble on the top of the altar.

Like many old churches, St. Mary’s has a raised ambo. As it was built in the days before sound systems, the priest was raised above the people so that his voice would project throughout the church. The interior of the church also has a double row of arches, and an organ in the rear. The stained glass windows feature the Stations of the Cross. In addition to its main altar, there are four side altars.

In its heyday in the 1920s, St. Mary’s was home to 1,600 families, but by the 1960s the parish went into a period of decline. An often-cited factor is the construction of the Kennedy Expressway in 1960, which ran just a few blocks away from the church and split the neighborhood the parish served in two.

Due to its extensive maintenance needs, St. Mary’s was slated for closure in 1988. Large and small donors stepped up to save the church, and, in 1991, Chicago Cardinal Joseph Bernardin entrusted care of the parish to Opus Dei priests. Rarely do Opus Dei priests staff parishes, but in this case they did so at the request of the archdiocese.

Today, St. Mary’s is more than just a magnificent building, but also a place where the Catholic faith is taught and fostered. Masses are celebrated in English, Spanish, and Polish, and confessions are readily available. Its priests are known for their orthodoxy, and the parish draws many large families. The parish still offers a grade school, and has a program for inner city youth.

St. Mary’s is an ideal place to start when taking a Chicago church tour, as it has much of the best of what a Catholic parish can offer.

St. Hedwig Church is also in Bucktown and is another beautiful historic parish. Its exterior façade is modest, but its interior is stunning.

St. Hedwig was founded by Resurrectionist Fathers in 1888; they still serve the parish today. Like St. Mary’s, it too served Polish immigrants, although many in the congregation today are Latino and Filipino. The church itself was built in 1901.

The narthex acts as a short transition area to the main body of the church, giving the faithful the time to prepare themselves mentally for entering the church. The narthex has historic statues of Christ crucified and Mary with the boy Jesus. Look over the doorway and you’ll see the church’s namesake, St. Hedwig. 

One of the many stories of the saint was that as a penance she always walked barefoot. Her confessor told her that she should have shoes, so the saint began carrying them with her under her arm. Thus, images of St. Hedwig often feature her carrying shoes.

St. Hedwig’s interior includes beautiful woodwork and art. Prominent features include 12 columns, six on either side, which represent both the 12 Apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel. The dome above the altar has a magnificent reproduction of Raphael’s Dispute of the Blessed Sacrament. Paintings near the ceiling of the church depict the seven sacraments. In the rear of the church is a double balcony for the choir.

Fire has struck the church more than once. Most recently, a 2008 electrical fire burned a hole in the wooden floor along the altar area. Firemen were able to douse the blaze before serious damage was done. If you look at the large crucifix to the right of the altar area, you’ll still see the darkened areas around the base where it was touched by flames.

St. Hyacinth Basilica is one of three basilicas in Chicago. The church towers above modest homes in the neighborhood of Avondale. It was founded in 1894, and built between 1917 and 1921. It was designated a basilica in 2003.

Exterior features include a soaring three-tower façade, decorative bronze doors (added in 2005) and a statue of Blessed John Paul II along the side of the church. The late pontiff visited the basilica in the 1970s before becoming pope, and due to the parish’s Polish heritage, is specially honored there. The grounds also have a memorial dedicated to Jerzy Popieluszko, a Polish priest murdered by the communist secret police in 1984, and a World War I memorial.

The interior of the church is especially impressive. The central dome features an image of the Holy Spirit in a stained glass window surrounded by mural of 150 prominent saints, clergy—including Pope John Paul II—and laity. Look for the gold bell to the right, and the red and yellow umbrella to the left, indications that it is a basilica.

Other features include an ornate main altar, side altars, double balconies, altar rails, a raised ambo, and magnificent paintings throughout. The stained glass windows include images of the Resurrection and the birth of Jesus. Many statues and images of the saints are throughout the church; look for St. Hyacinth’s image hanging above the main altar. The basilica is home to 35 relics of different saints, and it also has a collection of memorabilia of Pope John Paul II.

St. Helen’s Church in Ukrainian Village, built in 1965, is a modern church also worth a visit. Much of its interior is beautiful marble with a “royal and regal” motif. High-quality materials were used in the construction of the church; the pews, for example, are of a well-crafted walnut.

Its altar retablo features the tree of life, including images of grapes and wheat. A large crucifix and tabernacle are front and center. Along the ceiling are 12 heraldic shields of the Apostles. The stained glass windows are not representational but abstract; however, they are well-ordered, symmetrical, and make use of primary colors. There are only four statues, but each is well done with multi-colored marble.

Some other suggestions for churches to visit when in Chicago:

St. Stanislaus Kostka Church is the oldest and most prominent Polish parish in Chicago, also right along the Kennedy Expressway.  Founded in 1867, the current church was built 1871 to 1881. Highlights include a painting over the altar by Tadeusz Zukotynski depicting Mary placing the baby Jesus in the arms of St. Stanislaus. It also has beautiful stained glass windows and chandeliers. Cardinal George designated it as the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in 2008.

St. Alphonsus Church is another magnificent Chicago church in the neighborhood of Lake View. It was founded in 1882, and originally served German immigrants. The current church was dedicated in 1897. A fire partially destroyed the church in 1950, but it was rebuilt and opened again in two years.

Holy Family Church was founded by Jesuits in 1857, and is Chicago’s second oldest church. Although the great Chicago fire started in 1871 just a few blocks east of the church, the building escaped the blaze unharmed. The story is that the church’s founder, Father Arnold Damen, heard that fire had broken out while he was preaching a parish mission. The priest invoked Our Lady of Perpetual Help to save the building, promising to light seven candles before her statue if the church was spared. The wind suddenly shifted, and the church was saved. To this day, seven electric lights burn in Our Lady’s shrine in the church’s east transept to mark the event. 

Holy Name Cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese, dedicated in 1875 and built in the Gothic revival style. Look up towards the ceiling and you’ll see the five hats, or galeros , of deceased cardinals who served the archdiocese: Cardinals Mundelein, Stritch, Meyer, Cody, and Bernardin.

Monastery of the Holy Cross is a Benedictine monastery in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago; the church which serves the community was formerly Immaculate Conception Parish. You can stay overnight and pray with the monks, as they now operate a bed and breakfast, which helps fund their work.

St. John Cantius was originally another Polish parish, founded in 1893. Today it is served by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. The parish is beautiful, and known for its daily offering of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form, as well as the Ordinary Form. It also offers a rich program of sacred music. In the rear of the church, there are relics of many saints.

St. Mary of the Lake was founded in the neighborhood of Buena Park in 1901, and the church itself was built 1914 to 1917. It features stunning architecture and artwork: ornate carvings, marble, arches, paintings, stained glass windows, and altars. One of the city’s finest.

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Sanctuary Tours

Our sanctuary, with all its rich history and beauty, is open  mondays through fridays, 10am to 2pm .

• QR Codes are displayed on stained glass windows.
• Certain restrictions enforced
• Balcony continues to remain closed

The Chapel in the Sky Tours

Members & guests can tour the chapel in the sky.

• After Sunday Worship Services . Check with an Usher and meet at the Welcome desk in the Narthex.
• After Wednesday 12:10PM to 12:40 PM Worship Service . Check with an Usher and meet at the Welcome desk in the Narthex.
• Saturday at 2pm. Please meet at the Welcome Desk in the Narthex.

Please be advised that stairs are involved. The Sky Chapel tour is not ADA accessible, various steps are involved.

Chicago church serves as a creators' sanctuary for the South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces

CHICAGO (CB S) — A new South Side program combines two problems for one shared creative solution.

Churches with unused space -- and artists who need a place to work.

It's called South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces , and they're showing how their funds serve a higher calling.

"The minister of music will tell us what page you can find that, but Sing Unto the Lord. Great is thy faithfulness. Amen. Amen."

Every Sunday, music fills the sanctuary of South Shore's Bryn Mawr Community Church. 

But for nearly five years, a theater upstairs has gone quiet.

"Probably back in the '60s, Time magazine did an article that featured the Christmas programs that would happen in this room right here. And I said, 'We have got to get this back online,'" said Pastor JeVon Moore of Bryn Mawr Community Church.

Once 5,000 strong, Pastor JeVon Moore said they now see 70-80 members weekly.

"Where we are today, things are just greatly different. Not just for us but for churches all over," Moore said. 

Used as little more than storage for the last half-decade, the theater is now getting a second act.

"It's like a lightbulb goes off, honestly."

Reverend Sarah Jones is with the South Side Artists in Sacred Spaces program.

"Artists on the South Side of Chicago need space to create, exhibit, rehearse, perform. And Sacred Places have those spaces in abundance that are affordable and other underutilized," Jones said. 

The program is a partnership between several agencies and brings religious groups and artists together.

They previously helped cover the rent for artists' studios in unused church rooms, including the work of Rhonda Hardy, whose historic Bronzeville Babies CBS 2 reported  on in February.

Now, they're giving grants to six congregations to improve their facilities so they can open to more artists, including $20,000 for renovations at Bryn Mawr Community Church.

"I said we gotta do this. Like we have to."

Bringing the music back to this corner of the community church.

Organizers said most of these projects should be completed by this summer or the end of the year.

The partners behind this program hope to expand with more grants on the South Side and to cover other parts of Chicago and the state.

Chicago police investigating break-in, burglary at Lakeview church

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A North Side church was broken into and burglarized early Wednesday morning, Chicago police said.

CPD said a suspect broke the front glass door of the Broadway United Methodist Church, located in the 3300-block of North Broadway in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, about 4:45 a.m.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The suspect then entered the church, and removed items from an office inside, police said.

The individual got into an orange SUV and drove away after the incident, according to police.

SEE ALSO: CPD alerts plumbing, electrical businesses of burglaries, armed robberies on NW, North, West Sides

No one was in custody later Wednesday morning, and Area Three detectives are investigating.

Police did not provide any additional information about who was involved in the crime.

Alka Lyall, a pastor at the church, told the Sun-Times she "felt sad not only for the damage that we're experiencing, but also for the person feeling so under-resourced that they have to resort to this level."

"It's sad that something like this happens but it happens all the time," Lyall told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Two main entrance windows and an office window were broken, according to Lyall, and a laptop in the office remained untouched.

Sun-Times Media contributed to this report.

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Northwestern football to play Illinois and Ohio State at Wrigley Field this year

The cubs’ home stadium was available for college games, but not until november, when the baseball playoffs will have ended..

Wrigley Field will host two Northwestern football games this season.

Nam Y. Huh/AP

Northwestern’s football team will play its first five home games at its temporary on-campus stadium this year, the school announced Wednesday. The Wildcats’ two most compelling games, however, will be at Wrigley Field.

The Wildcats will play Ohio State on Nov. 16 and rival Illinois on Nov. 30, both at the Friendly Confines. The Cubs’ home stadium was available for college games, but not until November, when the baseball playoffs will have ended.

Their on-campus home games will come against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 31, Duke on Sept. 7, Eastern Illinois on Sept. 14, Indiana on Oct. 5 and Wisconsin on Oct. 19.

Northwestern began demolishing their home for the almost 100 years, Ryan Field — only a skeleton of the press box remains — about three months ago. They plan to open a new stadium in 2026 on the same site.

Their search for a stadium in which to play in the interim years had been the subject of intrigue since the team announced construction plan.

Last month, the Wildcats announced plans to expand the Lanny and Sharon Martin Lakeside Facility, the lacrosse/soccer stadium on their lakefront campus in Evanston. InProduction, which built stands for last summer’s NASCAR race downtown, will construct the facility this summer. It’s expected to hold about 15,000 fans. The structure will stand for the next two football seasons, with the lacrosse and men’s and women’s soccer teams also using it.

Prior to deciding to build the temporary stadium, Northwestern considered playing games at SeatGeek Stadium, the former home of the Firein Bridgeview, as well as Soldier Field. The latter would have proven difficult — the Bears and Fire are primary tenants.

Northwestern will give priority to 2023 season ticket-holders when distributing tickets at the smaller on-campus stadium. It’s unclear whether the school will allow fans to park on campus —there’s one garage within walking distance — or have them take a shuttle from nearby lots in Evanston.

Wrigley Field has hosted three college games since 1938 — all played by Northwestern. The Wildcats played Illinois in 2010, Purdue in 2021 and Iowa last year.

The Big Ten will announce start times and television networks later this summer.

Moscow Night Tour

• Page active

Description

Highlights:.

• Feel the spirit of sleepless Moscow
• Party the night away in one of the many Moscow bars
• See what you can’t see during the day
• Walk around historical part of city by night
• Astonishing Kremlin views
• Majestic architecture in colors of night
• Enjoy great views from Sparrow Hills
• Hypnotizing night city lights
• Become a part of lively Moscow nightlife

Tour Itinerary:

Exploring night Moscow means to find yourself in totally different city! Monuments become more spellbinding and the streets with nightclubs, bars and cafes are lively and ready to meet you. Feel the amazing atmosphere of night city and make sure that Moscow never sleeps.

Sample itinerary for the Moscow night tour:

This place is must-see not only during the day but also (especially!) at night. You will feel the real majesty of this place with its monuments, the beautiful illumination and be amazed with iconic Kremlin walls .

Sparrow Hills

Observation deck  on Sparrow Hills with  Moscow State University  (Stalin skyscraper) is the great place to enjoy breathtaking views of city by night.

Beautiful  City bridge  leading to  Gorky Park  has fantastic views of  Christ the Savior   Cathedral and the Moskva River. Exploring Moscow attractions by riding a bike along the riverside pathways can be a unique adventure!

Historic City Centre

Walk along main Moscow streets  :  Tverskaya Street  and historical lanes with a great variety of cafes and bars.  Arbat  is a legendary street to find all kinds of awesome! Enjoy the streets loved by citizens and tourists.

Night clubs and bars

Finish your night adventure with a drink in the nightlife hotspot Solyanka, or Patriarch bridge leading to Strelka with lots of stunning views on the way!

From our tour. Impressions of our American tourist:

We walked over the bridge where I got a better photo of the Kremlin to enter metro station to travel the one stop back to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. This cathedral has a fascinating story.  It is Moscow's largest Orthodox cathedral.  It was built between 1839-1883 as a memorial to those who fell fighting Napoleon's army in the War of 1812. 

At its entry, the marble walls are covered with inscribed names of those whose lives were lost.  For more than a century, it was the city's largest single structure, dominating the city skyline.  In 1931, a few seconds demolished what had taken 50 years to build, following Stalin's orders. 

The marble from the church and other valued materials and objects were stripped and removed to be used elsewhere, such as for creating art in the Metro stations.  During Khrushchev's time, one of the world's largest outdoor swimming pools was built. 

In recent years, the decision was made to rebuild the Cathedral; this time it took only 5 years at a cost of $150 million.  While the city provided most of the funding, when the decision to rebuild was announced, the rubles poured in from the general population.  Once again, photos were not allowed, but my friend bought a booklet, and she kindly let me use it so you can see its elaborate interior. 

What you probably DO know about this cathedral is that the Russian punk band Pussy Riot performed a protest concert inside the church in 2012, resulting in their arrest and jail time for 3 of its members.

After my friend selected her icon from the gift shop, it was time to bid our favorite Muscovite guide farewell. Our Moscow guide has restored my faith in her generation.  So wise and compassionate she is.  She was extremely perceptive about our preferences and needs. 

As my friend noted to me last night after we got back to our room, there wasn't a problem our guide didn't solve with calm and timely effectiveness.  After she presented both of us with gifts tied with satin ribbon, she walked us across the plaza in front of the cathedral to our waiting cab.  She told my friend that she reminded her of her own "Baba" and that she would send my friend a picture of her to show the resemblance. 

Even with this affection on her part toward my friend, I know our guide would have delivered the same excellent guide service to us, topped with abundant grace and sensitivity.  These characteristics are a part of her inner soul.  Our positive regard of Moscow is because of our guide.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + An expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time.

*This Moscow by night tour can be modified to meet your preferences .

Write your review