Romeoville Church Mourns 14-Year-Old Langston Britton After Tragic Drowning at Wisconsin Faith Camp
A close-knit faith community is grieving the devastating loss of Langston Britton, a vibrant 14-year-old from Romeoville, Illinois, whose life was tragically cut short during a church youth camp in Wisconsin.
🎒 The Tragedy at Silver Birch Ranch
Langston was attending a five-day StuCo Summer Camp at Silver Birch Ranch, a Christian retreat located in White Lake, Wisconsin, with approximately 400 fellow students from Community Christian Church in Plainfield ([turn0search0]/WLS-TV Chicago, [turn0search11]/Patch Chicago)
On Friday afternoon, while swimming in Sawyer Lake, Langston suddenly submerged near his swim buddy and never resurfaced. His friends alerted lifeguards immediately, who recovered him from the lake and initiated CPR until EMS arrived. Tragically, efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the scene ([turn0search0]/WLS-TV Chicago, [turn0search6]/ABC7 Chicago, [turn0search11]/Patch Chicago).
❤️ Remembering Langston Britton
Langston was more than just a youth group camper—he was known for his deep faith, leadership, and warm personality. Community Christian Church’s pastor, John Ciesniewski, stated:
“Langston lived a life marked by grace, curiosity, faith, and compassion… His laughter, his questions, his hugs, and his presence brought warmth and joy to every room he entered.” ([turn0search11]/Patch Chicago).
A GoFundMe organized in his name describes him as a young man admired for his leadership, faith, and ability to inspire others, even as a teenager. He was due to begin high school in just a few short weeks and had been preparing to share his faith publicly through baptism at camp ([turn0search6]/ABC7 Chicago, [turn0search3]/FOX32 Chicago).
🕰️ Community Reaction & Aftermath
Langston’s death has profoundly impacted his church community, friends, and family:
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Community Christian Church made the difficult decision to end the high school camp early and canceled the upcoming middle school event in response to the tragedy ([turn0search0]/WLS-TV Chicago).
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Emotional support and grief counseling have been mobilized to assist those affected, including students, church leadership, and families ([turn0search11]/Patch Chicago).
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The church described his passing as the most painful moment in the congregation’s history since its founding: “This has been the most difficult week … in the history since I started being a pastor” ([turn0search0]/WLS-TV Chicago).
đź“ť Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Langston Britton |
| Age | 14 years old |
| Hometown | Romeoville, Illinois (Community Christian Church) |
| Camp Location | Silver Birch Ranch, White Lake, Wisconsin |
| Incident Date | Friday, during summer camp session |
| Incident Details | Drowned while swimming; lifeguards and EMS responded quickly |
| Community Response | Camp canceled, grief services offered |
| Legacy | Known for faith, leadership, warmth, and joy |
🌿 Final Reflections
Langston’s passing is a poignant reminder that life can change in an instant—even for strong swimmers and active youth. His story underscores the importance of vigilance, supervision, and safety guidance—even in environments designed for fun and fellowship.
To Langston’s family, peers, and church community: your grief is shared by many who hear of his story. Though his time here was heartbreakingly short, his impact—rooted in faith, love, and sincerity—will long endure in the hearts of those he touched.