Welcome
St. Lawrence Episcopal Church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, one of the 111 domestic and overseas dioceses comprising The Episcopal Church, and, in turn, a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
We invite you to explore this website, check out our Facebook page, contact us, or join us for worship in person or online on Sundays at 9:00 AM. Truly, all are welcome!
Our Story
St. Lawrence Episcopal Church has always been located in the heart of Libertyville – the only church on Church Street. Episcopalians first gathered in Libertyville in November 1908. In early 1910, St. Lawrence became a “mission” church and began meeting regularly in the former Union Church located on Church Street. St. Lawrence initially shared the church space with other denominations, but in 1912, the building was purchased by the St. Lawrence congregation. A fire destroyed the church in 1917, and the original part of our existing building was built in 1918. In 1945, St. Lawrence officially became a parish, and through the years, as our congregation grew, so did our building. In 1963, an education wing was added, and a 2004 expansion included adding a new sanctuary, parish hall, classrooms, and administrative office space.
Today, our church is home to St. Lawrence parishioners as a meeting and gathering space, and as a shared space with many outside organizations. In addition to our weekly services, the doors are open throughout the week to Village Green Montessori preschool, various community groups, several self-help groups, and the Hope Food Pantry. Our sanctuary space is often used for theater and musical performances due to its great acoustics. St. Lawrence hosts Cookies and Cocoa during Libertyville’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, participates in the annual pet blessing during Dog Days of Summer, sponsors outdoor play during the Libertyville Farmer’s Market, and hosts various other activities throughout the year.
In 2021, St. Lawrence embarked on a collaboration with three nearby Episcopal churches on a project we are calling "Better Together." Our work joins St. Lawrence with St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in Deerfield, St. Elisabeth's Episcopal Church in Glencoe, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park. Together, we build a broader community by collaborating in seasonal worship; formation for children, families, and youth; leadership development; and social events.
