Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church (Chicago, Illinois) Records

On October 25, 1894, Rev. Adam Detzer, missionary at large in Chicago, conducted a worship service in a hall. Trinity Lutheran Church came to be through his efforts. At the beginning, services were held every other Sunday. On January 13, 1895, Trinity was formally organized and named "Die Deutsche Evangelisch Lutherische Saint George's Gemeinde". The name would change in January 1896 and June 1940. Plans were made for a church building, and the cornerstone was laid on April 21, 1895, with dedication on August 18, 1895. Rev. H. Moldenhauer was called as the first pastor, and was ordained and installed on August 18, 1985, as well. School was held right away. The name of "Die Deutsche Evangelisch Lutherische Trinitatis Gemeinde" was adopted in 1896. In 1897, Sunday School was started, and the congregation was accepted into membership with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States. The school was built and dedicated on October 18, 1903. A parsonage was also purchased. English services were held twice a month beginning in 1907, and by 1916, English services were held once a month. The 25th Anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1920. The 40th Anniversary was observed in special services from October 20-October 27, 1935. In 1939, the congregation received an offer to purchase the church and school property, so they were sold, and other property was purchased. Ground was broken on October 13, 1940, and the cornerstone was laid on November 3, 1940. The same year, the name of the church was changed to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Dedication of the first unit of building was held on March 23, 1941, and the auditorium served as the sanctuary until the building project was completed. The first parsonage was sold in 1942. The congregation's 50th Anniversary was observed with special services between August 19 and September 30, 1945. The Day School received accreditation from the Chicago Board of Education in 1952. Groundbreaking for the new church building was held on May 4, 1952, and the Cornerstone Laying Service was held on June 29, 1952. The new church building was dedicated on April 19, 1953. The congregation celebrated the 60th anniversary with special services from January through September 1955. A teacherage was built in 1959. The Boy Scout Troop received its charter in 1962. The school became a permanent part of the Teacher's Training Program at Concordia College (River Forest, Illinois). A Girl Scout Troop was formed in 1967, followed by a Brownie Troop in 1969. The debt of the church, school, and teacherage was paid in full and a mortgage burning ceremony was held in 1968. The congregation celebrated the 75th anniversary with special services from January through October 1970. The school, gymnasium, and kitchen were expanded in 1972. 1975 saw the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the congregation in special services in April through September. The teacherage was sold in 1976. The congregation celebrated its 85th Anniversary in 1980. Rev. R.J. Krueger retired after serving 38 years in the ministry, all at Trinity. The 100th Anniversary of the congregation was celebrated in 1995. This congregation closed in 2019.