On August 5, 1851, a group of 17 Christians assembled for the purpose of organizing a Baptist church in Downers Grove. They adopted articles of faith and a covenant and called G. F. Holt to be the first pastor. Meetings were held in a schoolhouse located on West Maple Avenue at Dunham Road. The church was first called “The First Baptist Church and Society.” 

By the spring of 1853 the membership had increased to 52, some of whom had been baptized in mid-winter in the St. Joe River. Land at 929 Maple Avenue was given to the church by Samuel Curtiss in January, 1854. A new church building was constructed on the land by the men of the church at a cost of about $1,200. 

Fire destroyed the church building in May 1871 and the membership, then numbering 90, launched another building program. In March, 1872 the church celebrated the dedication of their new building which had been built without incurring any debt.

In 1906, this 34-year-old building was remodeled including relocating the entrance and steeple from the front to the side. The church took the name “First Baptist Church of Downers Grove” in 1902. 

The needs of a growing membership resulted in the construction in 1925 of the annex behind the church building. A year later the parsonage at 5240 Washington Street was completed. To provide more rooms for Bible School expansion, in 1938 the men of the church excavated underneath the church building with pick, shovel and wheelbarrow. The rooms were finally completed 10 years later, through the persistence of a trustee, H. C. McMahan. The sanctuary of the 88-year-old building was remodeled in 1960 to provide a Bible School assembly room and adjacent classrooms. 

As the membership grew, the seating capacity was often inadequate for the worship service congregations. A building program was launched to construct a larger sanctuary on the adjacent corner of Maple Avenue and Washington Street. Church member Fred H. Greil was appointed architect. Ground was broken in March, 1956, with dedication of the new building on August 12, 1957. 

A long-standing dream had been the erection of a new building to connect the existing edifices and provide modern facilities for Bible School and parlors for church gatherings. This was accomplished in September of 1969 with the dedication of the W. Hamilton Sinclair Education Building. Rev. Sinclair retired as Senior Pastor in 1975 after 45 years of service to this church. He was then appointed as Pastor Emeritus. 

Enrollment began for a Christian preschool in 1970. As the church and the community saw the need for Christ-centered education, the school grew, adding additional grades year by year. Now called “Downers Grove Christian School,” the student body numbers nearly 200 students in preschool through 8th Grade and serves both as a base for Christian education and as an outreach to the surrounding communities. 

In 2001, additions to Downers Grove Christian School included a new gymnasium, lunchroom/church fellowship hall, and school offices. In 2014, a Prayer Garden was commemorated in honor of Bonnie Zimmerman, late wife to former Pastor Don Zimmerman.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Church demonstrated resilience by embracing digital platforms to continue spreading the gospel and supporting its members and community.

Throught it all, the mission of the Church has remained centered on the timeless call to boldly proclaim the gospel and motivate believers to maturity in Christ.