Evanston Church of God looks for larger space, lists current building for sale

The Evanston Church of God is outgrowing its longtime home at 1332 Davis St., prompting church leaders to list the property for sale and look for a new space to host their services and programs, said Lead Pastor Caleen Howard. “We’re experiencing a lot of growth here at the church, and there is a limitation in our ability to expand,” Howard told the Evanston RoundTable. “It’s a good problem to have.” The congregation was founded in 1974 and has always been housed at the Davis Street building, which was originally built in 1906 according to its online sale listing . Howard moved from Toronto to join the church in 2022 and has led the congregation since October 2023. She said the church owes its growth to being “rooted in families,” with multiple generations continuing to attend over the decades, as well as increasing community outreach to connect with new congregants. “Resurrecting the vision to reach beyond the four walls of our church has caused us to connect with individuals who may not have considered coming to church before,” Howard said. “Now we’re seeing that as a great impact as well.” The congregation is now about 230 people, exceeding the building’s capacity of about 200 seats. Howard said church leaders are looking for a larger and more accessible facility, especially for older congregants who have difficulty using stairs. That may lead them to a more modernized approach than a typical church building. “We do appreciate that traditional church feel, but at the same time our mission means more than our tradition,” she said. Whatever shape the new building takes, the church will aim to stay in Evanston. “Location is important to us, because we are Evanston bred and we’re Evanston grown,” Howard said. The current building was listed July 17 at $2.25 million; the price has since dropped to $1.6 million. It sits within the R1 single-family zoning district and the Ridge Historic District, and is itself a local historic landmark, according to the City of Evanston’s property browser . Its landmark status means demolition or exterior changes would be subject to review and approval by the city’s Preservation Commission, and its zoning means the building would need special approval for most uses other than as a single-family home. Howard said a mix of groups has expressed interest in the building, from other churches to secular nonprofits and people looking to convert it into a home. She said church leadership is still “getting a feel” for these potential buyers and is open to everyone. “Another church that might be a smaller congregation than ours would benefit from our space, that might be downsizing, or that’s a young congregation that’s just getting started, it might appeal to them,” Howard said. Howard said the building could also meet other needs, such as counseling or other nonprofit services, because of its location. Related Stories