Ottawa is a city in and the county seat of LaSalle County Illinois.  It is located at the confluence of the navigable Fox and Illinois Rivers, the latter being a conduit for river barges and connects Lake Michigan at Chicago, to the Mississippi River, and North America’s 25,000-mile river system.  The population estimate was 18,742, as of 2020.  

   Bishop Philander Chase was the founder of Christ Episcopal Church in Ottawa.  In 1835 he was called by the newly formed Diocese of Illinois to be its first Bishop.  He preached and performed divine services” in Ottawa on June 16, 1837.  This was the beginning of the Episcopal Church in Ottawa.  

   Services were held at various locations, first in the old courthouse and then a warehouse, a room over a store and in private residences. In 1849, the first church was built on Clinton Street and consecrated in 1850.  In 1866, land was purchased at the northeast corner of Washington Square for a new church which is now a parking lot.  In 1870 bids were taken for the construction of the new and current church, which was finished in 1872 and is the church on this postcard. 

   The card was published by the “Kneussl Bros, Ottawa” and is in excellent condition with minor wear if any and a clean, clear image and reverse.  It is a nice card of a historic church.