Hyde Park Union Church

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8/23/09
Hyde Park Union Church
Service time:  10am – 11:15am
Christian denomination

Another church in Hyde Park that I’ve always walked by, but never been inside, is Hyde Park Union Church (HPUC).  Located at the 56^th / Woodlawn intersection, HPUC is a Hyde Park landmark around the University of Chicago campus, a simple but austere structure anchoring the neighborhood roots.

The red-stone-wall exterior gives off a warm friendly feeling, contrasted by white-gray framed backs of stained-glass windows.  Surrounding trees and sunshine also help to create the welcoming environment.  There are two main entrances on the corner of the street, leading into an antechamber before the main worship area.  Attendees enter from the back corner of the sanctuary, allowing visitors to enter discreetly and without disturbing the service if late (I was indeed a little late, having walked about 15 blocks to get there).

Interior:

The interior of HPUC was much nicer than I had initially expected- high vaulted ceiling, a variety of stained-glass windows adorning the east, south, and north walls, with an exceptional circular stained-glass window above the east wall.  An organ (presumably an organ) and its flute pipes (flute pipes?) decorate the front of the sanctuary on the west wall, along with a slightly elevated platform for the lectern (is it a lectern?), seats for elders (elder seats?), and other worship symbols.  The seating appears to be able to hold a good few hundred people; during my visit, more than a hundred were present.

Service:

Having been to a few different Christian-denomination services now, I was able to comfortably follow the service offered at HPUC.  Hymns, scripture reading, sermon, prayer, meditation, announcements, benediction… all were a good mix of ecumenical services encompassing different Christian denominations.  The congregation members were an eclectic variety ranging from young children to older members of the neighborhood; all were very friendly.  One of the sermons was given by a young pastor full of passion who called us to go out and ‘heal’ our community.  Christian or non-Christian, those listening can all take something away from the moral lesson.

Overall, my visit to Hyde Park Union Church was a great experience that finally allowed me to see what went on behind-the-scenes of the hunkering building so near campus.  Am I more familiar with the Hyde Park neighborhood and its buildings now?  Most definitely.  Has my attitude toward the neighborhood changed?  Quite possibly.

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