Christ Church became an Episcopal mission in 1876 and a parish in 1904, but not without a struggle. The story began when John Garland, who had in 1869 built a nondenominational, wooden church on his property, gave it to the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago in 1876. While 25 Winnetka residents were granted their petition to be organized into a mission, the next 20 years were not easy. The church was not well heated and was difficult to reach in winter, so the mission rented space for Sunday evening services in the local school. These were conducted by part-time ministers. Mission leadership, both lay and clerical, changed frequently, and the mission was almost always in dire financial condition.