Holy Cross Lutheran Church (Toledo, Ohio) Records

Rev. John Fackler arrived in Toledo, Ohio on September 8, 1930, to answer his call by the English District of the LCMS to organize a mission in the Homedale section of Toledo. He canvassed the neighborhood with assistance of the Walther Leaguers from Trinity Lutheran Church and Memorial Lutheran Church. The first worship service was held in a home on November 2, 1930. This residence was used for worship until 1931. A store was rented to provide more room for worship and was also a more visible location. The congregation was officially organized on May 19, 1931. The "Homedale Lutheran Mission" became "Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church". In 1932 due to growth, the congregation moved to a larger store. The congregation was officially received as a member of the English District of the LCMS in June 1934. Later that summer, the congregation purchased land for their first chapel. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 14, 1936, followed by the cornerstone-laying on July 12, 1936. A farewell service was held in the storefront chapel on August 23, 1936, and the chapel was dedicated on October 4, 1936. Holy Cross left mission status in 1942. Holy Cross held special worship services for both V-E and V-J Days in 1945. At the fifteenth anniversary service on November 25, 1945, the mortgage was burned. In 1946, two worship services became available on Sundays. The congregation continued to grow, so a building committee was formed in 1950 to plan expansion of the church building. The groundbreaking was held on May 13, 1951. The cornerstone-laying was held on July 15, 1951, and the new addition was dedicated on March 30, 1952. On October 10, 1954, a marble statue of Christ was dedicated. This statue is the focal point of the sanctuary. The 25th anniversary was celebrated on November 6, 1955. The next building program included an educational and recreational building, as talk of a Lutheran elementary school became prominent. As growth continued, the phrase "Building for Eternity" became the theme for yet another building program in 1958. In 1959, Holtkamp Organ Company was hired to build a two-manual pipe organ for the congregation. Once the new gymnasium was finished, the congregation began worshipping there in February 1961 until May 14, 1961, when the completed sanctuary was dedicated. A Day Care was started in 1974. In 1978, Hosanna Lutheran School opened in the Holy Cross facilities. The sanctuary was remodeled the same year, including a free-standing altar. In 1980, the 1936 chapel that wasn't being used was remodeled, providing an office, lounge, and meeting room. The 50th anniversary of the congregation was celebrated on November 2, 1980. The closing service of this congregation took place on February 11, 2018.