Jackson Blvd
History OF
the Jackson Blvd Church of Christ
The "old" Maypole Avenue Church of Christ is the mother church in the black Chicago community among the Churches of Christ. It was started in the early 1920's by J.T. Daniels of Nashville, Tennessee. Bro and Sis Daniels came to Chicago in an effort to better their economic status. He started a business selling coal and ice. It was during that time that the late evangelist Levi Kennedy worked for Bro Daniels in the business.
The "old" Maypole Avenue Church had its lowly beginnings in the home of Bro and Sis Daniels, located at 1903 West Maypole Ave on the West Side of Chicago. The congregation moved to the Daniels' home to a funeral parlor located on Lake Street. The members later purchased an old two-unit apartment building at 2538 West Maypole thus deriving the name Maypole Ave Church of Christ. This was a frame building with living quarters upstairs. The first floor was converted for the purpose of worship. The late Evangelist Levi Kennedy preached his first sermon at the Maypole Avenue Church of Christ in 1926. A group of members from that Maypole congregation moved to the South Side of the city to begin another congregation. Bro Levi Kennedy became their minister. This group became Michigan Avenue, and later the Sheldon Heights Church of Christ.
Robert M. Woods became the minister of the Maypole congregation in 1952. He followed the late Bro Jesse Pace. In 1957 the congregation purchased the property at 1228 North Claremont Ave. In 1965 the congregation relocated to 3300 West Monroe and became identified as the Monroe Street Church of Christ.
On August 26,1988 the Church suffered a devastating fire. Thirteen months later the building was completely restored. It was acclaimed a neighborhood landmark\historic religious properties, by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois.
Robert L. Turner (2008 - Present)
Bro. Robert L.Turner has been minister of the Monroe Street Church of Christ since June 2008. He was ordained a minister at the Chatham Avalon Church of Christ in 1998, but he has been preaching under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit 1992. Bro. Turner has great plans for the future of the Monroe Street Church of Christ. With Gods help he is starting Monroe Street on its “new beginning” by empowering Church members for service
Luis R. Lugo Sr. (1998 - 2007)
In January of 1998, upon the retirement of Dr. Robert M. Woods Dr. Luis R. Lugo, Sr. was appointed minister. Dr. Lugo established a class to train Deacons for providing scriptural leadership for the future. Three deacons were ordained out of this class: Bro. Samuel Johnson, Bro. Ray Legg and Bro. Trevor Agard.
Robert M. Woods (1952 - Retired 1998)
In 1952 Brother Robert M. Woods became the Minister of the Old Maypole Church of Christ. Under his leadership in 1957, the Church purchased the property at 1228 N. Claremont Avenue, on the near north side of the city. The Church was then known as the Claremont Ave Church of Christ. In 1965 the Church moved to its present location at 3300 W. Monroe Street and became known as: The Monroe Street Church of Christ. After a devastating fire August 26, 1988, the building was completely restored.
Jesse Solomon Pace (1903 - 1987)
In 1946, Brother Jesse Solomon Pace became the pulpit Minister of the Old Maypole Avenue Church of Christ on the Westside of Chicago, Illinois. In 1951, he left the Old Maypole Avenue congregation and established the Midtown Church of Christ in Racine, Wisconsin. For a period of twelve years, Brother and Sister Pace commuted each weekend to Racine and worked untiringly to help build up the Midtown congregations. Because of the efforts of Brother Jesse Solomon Pace, the Midtown Church of Christ in Racine, Wisconsin, continues to prosper today. In the June of 1963, due to advancing years, Brother Pace returned to the Michigan Avenue Church of Christ (now Sheldon Heights Church of Christ) where had preached occasionally until his death (Brother Jesse Solomon Pace passed away on the afternoon of February 15, 1987).
John T. Daniel (1864-1949)
​In the year 1916, Brother and Sister Daniel moved to Chicago, Illinois, and established a grocery business. At this time there was no Church of Christ among either Blacks or Whites in the city of Chicago. In the spring of 1917, with the assistance of Brother G. P. Bowser, Brother Daniel established the Lake Street Church of Christ, which later became the Old Maypole Avenue Church of Christ, later called the Claremont Avenue Church of Christ, and currently the Monroe Street Church of Christ. Brother Daniel passed away on the afternoon of December 23, 1949, exactly one day before his eighty-fifth birthday. The Monroe Street Church of Christ, as it is known today, holds the distinction of being the “Mother Church” among all churches of Christ in Chicago, Illinois.