Barr arrived, he was given responsibility for all religious work connected with the church at Vedder and Penn streets. The general area was known as "Little Hell" due to issues with poverty, crime and unemployment, including families living doubled up in houses and brick tenements of four and five stories.
After his ordination, Barr accepted his first pastoral assignment as the regular minister at Olivet Memorial Church in Chicago. The church was located at 665 Vedder Street on the near north side.