Highland Ave. The church, in its 187th year, is one of the city’s oldest congregations. While the roof damage is extensive, most of the building’s interior was spared significant harm.

But to be on the safe side, Saul and the committee brought in a structural engineer to further assess the building ... recently visited the church to check on the interior work.

Cagann said the interior wooden ceiling ... Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. With a large section of the building exposed, water is seeping inside the church.