Charities

This year all money raised by The Irish Charitable Society shall benefit Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago.

Since its founding by Irish immigrants on Easter morning in 1846, Old St. Patrick's has been interwoven in the life and history of the City of Chicago. Founded in 1846 as the first English-speaking parish in the city, the current church building was designed in a Romanesque style by two of Chicago's earliest practicing architects Augustus Bauer and Asher Carter. The cornerstone was laid on May 23, 1853, and the building was dedicated on Christmas Day, 1856.

Old St. Patrick's is one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Its survival makes it the oldest public building in the City of Chicago.

Inspired by the Celtic art exhibit at the Columbian Expostition of 1893 and the Book of Kells in Ireland, Thomas A. O'Shaughnessy designed, constructed, and personally installed the 15 beautiful stained-glass windows of Old St. Patrick's between 1912 and 1922. The 12 side windows were inspired by the Celtic designs of Ireland's Book of Kells. The final triptych windows, done in an art nouveau style and installed in the eastern facade of the church, are the “Faith, Hope & Charity” windows, also known as the Terrence MacSwiney Memorial Triptych. In 1977, Old St. Patrick's was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, Old St. Patrick's is home to a membership of over 3,000 households and innumerable friends. As we grow, we continually redefine what it means to be an urban church. We are committed to remaining open to new visions and possibilities, seeking broader horizons as we journey into our future.

Old St. Patrick's is dedicated to serving the community and the people within that community. For more information about Old St. Patrick's Church, please visit www.oldstpats.org.