History of St. Charles' Parish


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Finally the selection of a name for the Mission was discussed. The Bishop discouraged the use of a saints name because it would not be particularly euphonious when combined with St. Charles. He also objected to the use of a name already existing in the diocese and he promised to send us a list of prospective names. The list when received was as follows:
  • Holy Rood
  • Transfiguration
  • The Blessed Sacrament
  • The Holy Family
  • Intercession
  • All Souls
  • The Holy Angels
Bishop pointed out that Holy Rood would be most appropriate since Holy Rood means Holy Cross and the organizational meeting was held on Holy Cross Day which is 14 September. We later chose Holy Rood and that was the name under which the mission was organized. Many of us were very much in favor of St. Pauls in honor of the early days, but the Bishop objected that he did not wish to perpetuate a failure. Later on I will tell you how we came to change the name.

The first meeting of the full Finance Committee was held on 8 October when we chose the name Holy Rood (the second choice was Holy Angel and the third was Transfiguration). We also made plans to reinforce the floor as suggested by the St. Charles building inspector. During this time steps were taken to have the property removed from the tax rolls (since it was now a church) and the decision was made not to rent the apartment on the first floor of the building, but instead to turn it over to the women, who had been inspired by Fr. Burrett of Villa Park to open a Thrift Shop. I believe that Fr. Burrett was a friend of the Redmans, and the credit for the shop's initial and continued success was due mostly to the hard work and dedication of Marion Redman and my wife Edith. thrift shop

The second meeting of the Finance Committee was held on 3 November and we adopted a budget of $1,940.00. At the next meeting it was announced that that amount had been exceeded.

And finally the real reason for founding the mission occurred. On Sunday the 12th of December 1948 the first service was held in the Mission of the Holy Rood. Fr. Holt of St. Marks Geneva (who was Priest-in-charge) conducted the service and there were 50 persons present. I had been a lay reader in Batavia for some time and it was agreed that Fr. Holt would hold Communion service twice a month, and I would read Morning Prayer on the Sundays he was not there. At the same time we organized the Sunday School with me as Superintendent. The first classes were held after the first of the year. Also during this time we were very fortunate to receive gifts from a number of parishes and missions. Specifically an Altar Cross from Fr. Parker of Kankakee, the loan of Altar linens from Fr. Holt (the father of our Fr. Holt) of Grace Church in Oak Park, and an Altar from the Cathedral Shelter in Chicago.

On Sunday the 16th of January 1949 the first annual meeting of the Mission was held. In the bound record book, which is here, the first pages are, I believe a report by Charlie Redman, who was Clerk of the Committee, that he gave at that meeting. He concluded with the slogan JOIN THE HOLY ROOD AND BECOME PART OF THE HOLY BROOD. Attendance at services continued to be good but I have a note in my diary for 1948, 38 years ago today that it was five below and there were only 19 at service.

During the next several months the men made a number of alterations in the building to shore up the floor and finally, after the Thrift Shop moved to larger quarters, to remove a partition so that the whole first floor was now all one room.