The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago was founded in February 1871 when the congregations of Westminster Presbyterian Church and North Presbyterian Church merged. On October 8 of that same year, the great Chicago fire destroyed Fourth Church's first worship space the very night the young congregation dedicated it new home! In February, 1874, the congregation dedicated its new facility on the northwest corner of Rush and Superior Streets. After 40 years at this location, the growing congregation and its many programs called for a new facility.

Construction of the present church building began in 1912 under the supervision of architect Ralph Adams Cram. Fourth Church opened for worship in 1914. The area surrounding the church then was very different from what it is today. Chicago's now famous "Magnificent Mile" was an underdeveloped street called Pine Street. Thus the neighborhood grew up around the church, and except for the familiar Water Tower two blocks to the south, Fourth Church is now the oldest surviving structure on Michigan Avenue north of the river.