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Church History
St. Paul’s - The beginnings of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church date back to the year 1870. At the time a number of families decided to make an effort to secure the services of a pastor. The first service was conducted shortly after Easter 1870. However, it was not until March 15, 1871 that the congregation was organized. The first church edifice was erected in 1880 and was a frame building, 52’ x 28’. The frame was about half completed when a cyclonic storm demolished it. In 1897, a school building was erected and in 1900 the congregation, numbering seventy families undertook the task of building a new church. St. Olaf - According to history books, St. Olaf’s ELC church started in 1937. The first services were held in the home of Mrs. Augusta Gilbert. A new church was built in the mid 1940’s on the corner of West Main and North Maple, New Hampton. Trinity - On July 31, 1958 in separate congregational meetings, St. Paul’s and St. Olaf’s made the historic decision to merge. The merger of the two New Hampton congregations was the first merger of an American Lutheran Church and an Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Iowa District. From the merger of the two churches Trinity Lutheran Church (ALC) was born and a new era in Lutheran Ministry began. On August 10, 1958, the historic merger was completed with the first joint service in the St. Paul’s building. The two groups met on the sidewalk in front of the church steps and merged into one group. Singing A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, they entered the church carrying altar paraments, offering plates and other useful tools of worship.
In 1962, a new educational building and fellowship hall was dedicated. In 1966, new energy-efficient windows were installed. In 1967, new pews were installed and the interior of the church redecorated. With the merger of the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America in 1988, Trinity became an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Congregation. In 1989, a new organ was dedicated. In 1993, St. John Lutheran Church in Boyd, IA merged with Trinity. In 2001, an addition to the church building added new office space, a “Fireside Room” for gatherings and a new narthex. The church basement was also remodeled into a functional youth center. The list of cooperative projects continues to expand as does our mission. “The mission of our congregation is to multiply and equip the children of God’s household!” |
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