Apostolic Christian Church
710 East Main Street
Princeville, IL 61559
(309) 385-2060

Services:

• Sunday 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
• Sunday School 10:00 AM

The church of Princeville is tied directly to the congregation formerly located at the northern edge of Akron Township in Peoria County. For many years it was referred to as the "Streitmatter Prairie" church, and reference to the congregation as "Princeville" did not occur to any great extent until the church's second building was built in Princeville during 1920-1921.

It is interesting to note that when brethren from visiting churches would visit the prairie church in Akron Township, on returning to their home congregations, they would extend "greetings" from the "Streitmatter Prairie" church. During this era, the giving of greetings (following the morning worship service) was not as prevalent as today because travel was limited by slower modes of transportation.

The family name "Streitmatter" looms significantly in the history of the Princeville congregation. It was only by the most fortuitous of circumstances that this large family came to the area, that they learned of and embraced a new faith, and that eventually a church was born.

In the 1840's Michael and Catherine Streitmatter lived in Hegelbert, Baden, Germany, with their eight children, including six sons. Michael's trade was that of a nagelschmidt, or nailsmith, and a mechanic who could do any repairing in wood or iron work. He also make shoes and had many other talents.

In the latter stages of this decade, Michael told his boys if they would help and support him when they arrived in America, he would take them there. They promised to do so, and plans were made to emigrate.

They arrived in America, probably in 1947, and landed in Eden, near Hamburg, about twelve miles southwest of Buffalo, New York. Little did they realize they were situated only about 250 miles from the first Apostolic Christian Church (known then, as well as now, as the Evangelical Baptist Church) that had begun to blossom in Lewis County, New York, during that same year.

Poor economic conditions resulted in Federick Streitmatter, the eldest son, coming to Princeville in approximately 1849. He first worked for Thomas Black in Section 33, Akron Township. Sometime later he sent for the remainder of the family.

Prior to leaving New York, Michael Streitmatter had a dream that some calamity might befall them on their westward journey. In his dream, the floor sank and was replaced by water. They traveled by boat on Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and the Illinois River. Their little steamer was accidentally rammed by a larger one near LaSalle, Illinois. The collision knocked a big hole in the smaller boat causing one end to sink. The passengers had to abandon their boat, and many personal possessions were lost. The sinking of the boat tended to vindicate Michael Streitmatter's earlier dream.

The passengers fled to the nearby timber, built fires, and stayed overnight. The next day it rained, and they took shelter in an old log cabin. Eventually, another steamer came along and took them to Peoria. By 1854, Michael Streitmatter had purchased eighty acres of land in Akron Township.

One of Michael's sons, Christian, found employment as a shoemaker in Peoria. It was here he learned of the Apostolic Christina faith. He soon became converted and was baptized at the church which had just recently been established in Peoria.

Christian, enthusiastic and sincere about his "new birth" experience, went and told his brothers about it. Several accepted his message. It was during this time that the flame of faith in the Princeville area was ignited.

It was not until 1870 that the church at Streitmatter Prairie was organized. The Streitmatter family and others who moved to the area held worship services in homes. Benches used during worship were moved to the house of the host family.

The first church building was constructed in 1880 on land donated by Jacob Streitmatter in the southwest corner of Section 3, Akron Township. It was located just east of Christian Streitmatter's home. Located near the church were horse sheds which housed the horses that pulled the buggies to church. A few years after the church was built, Sunday School classes were held in a former schoolhouse across the road.

Christian Streitmatter, who are largely responsible for initiating a church in this area, served as the first minister. Karl Wirth and Louis Herbold were the only other ministers of record prior to 1900. Since then, fourteen ministers of record prior to 1900. Since then, fourteen ministers have proclaimed God's Word in the Princeville Church.

The old country church generated memories that have been passed down through the generations. The physical aspects of the church included open-back benches, plain wooden floors with runners in the aisles, and four coal stoves that were often replenished during the worship service.

A simple lunch has always been served at noon, with a fellowship hour between morning and afternoon services.

By the turn of the century, many of the older brethren began moving off their farms and into town. At the same time, many new converts came into the church. As a result of these two trends, the congregation decided to find "a town" in which to build a new church. Princeville was the most logical place. In 1920-1921, a large two-story brick church was built in Princeville at a cost of $60,000. Also a place for a cemetery was provided in a five-acre plot nearby.

In 1939, and several times later, this church was remodeled and redecorated. Crowded conditions and the fact that several families lived in areas north of Princeville led to the establishment of the Bradford, Illinois, congregation in 1964. Approximately thirty-five families from the Princeville congregation began attending the new Bradford church.

Even so, continued growth at Princeville ultimately resulted in the construction of a new and larger church costing $511,000. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on May 14, 1968. The first service in the new church was held on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1969. Seventeen members who were baptized in the country church and also attended the church built in 1920-1921, were able to worship in the new church (their third).

At the time of the 1970 church dedication, Elder Silas Leuthold (the first resident Elder) wrote, "It is our wish and sincere prayer that this house may ever be a haven where the truth will be proclaimed and sinful man may find eternal hope and salvation.

The above information is taken partially from the Sesquicentennial Princeville Illinois book from 1987.