Historic Trinity Lutheran Church
Encyclopedia
The Historic Trinity Lutheran Church is a church located in downtown Detroit
, Michigan
. It occupies the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church complex, located at 1345 Gratiot Avenue. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1981 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983.
, located at the corner of Jefferson and Hastings. Soon, the congregation bought the chapel of the Western Seaman's Friend Society
of Woodbridge Street, and moved it to Rivard and Larned. This building soon proved too small, the congregation built a new brick church at Gratiot and Rivard in 1866. This area, surrounding Eastern Market
, was at the time home to a large German population and a natural fit for Trinity.
Around this time, many schools, missions, and other congregations were begun by Trinity throughout the region. In total, 132 Lutheran parishes in southeast Michigan can be traced to Trinity. In 1905, a new school and social hall were built near the church. However, the community around Trinity soon changed as families left the downtown area, and the flow of new German immigrants stopped. Trinity began offering English services in addition to those in German.
In the late 1920s, Trinity began considering renovation of their 1866 structure. However, congregant Charles Gauss stepped forward and offered to finance the building of a new church. The old church was demolished, and the cornerstone of the new church, which is the current home of the congregation, was laid in 1929. The church was dedicated on February 15, 1931.
After World War II
, the population of downtown Detroit began moving in droves to the suburbs, and many Detroit churches, including Trinity, lost membership. However, then-pastor Gilbert Theodore Otte remained firm in keeping the church in the downtown area. The 1931 church structure was recognized for its historical significance by the city of Detroit in 1979, by the state of Michigan in 1982, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983.
Membership, however, declined, with only 112 church members in 1981. Additional programs were instituted, and membership more than tripled in five years. The church continues to be a gathering place for Detroit Lutherans, with over 1600 members in 2003. Today the parish operates under the Historic Trinity name under the umbrella of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It occupies the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church complex, located at 1345 Gratiot Avenue. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1981 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
History
The Trinity congregation was formed in 1850, when members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, a German-speaking congregation, broke away from the main body following the excommunication of another member. Services were first held in the chapel of Christ Episcopal ChurchChrist Church Detroit
Christ Church Detroit is an Episcopal church located at 960 E. Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It is also known as Old Christ Church, Detroit. It is the oldest Protestant church in Michigan which is still located on its original site...
, located at the corner of Jefferson and Hastings. Soon, the congregation bought the chapel of the Western Seaman's Friend Society
Mariners' Church
Mariners' Church of Detroit is a church adhering to Anglican liturgical traditions located at 170 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, United States...
of Woodbridge Street, and moved it to Rivard and Larned. This building soon proved too small, the congregation built a new brick church at Gratiot and Rivard in 1866. This area, surrounding Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Eastern Market may refer to:in Australia* Eastern Market, Melbournein the United States* Eastern Market Historic District, Detroit, Michigan* Eastern Market, Washington, D.C., a marketplace listed on the NRHP...
, was at the time home to a large German population and a natural fit for Trinity.
Around this time, many schools, missions, and other congregations were begun by Trinity throughout the region. In total, 132 Lutheran parishes in southeast Michigan can be traced to Trinity. In 1905, a new school and social hall were built near the church. However, the community around Trinity soon changed as families left the downtown area, and the flow of new German immigrants stopped. Trinity began offering English services in addition to those in German.
In the late 1920s, Trinity began considering renovation of their 1866 structure. However, congregant Charles Gauss stepped forward and offered to finance the building of a new church. The old church was demolished, and the cornerstone of the new church, which is the current home of the congregation, was laid in 1929. The church was dedicated on February 15, 1931.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the population of downtown Detroit began moving in droves to the suburbs, and many Detroit churches, including Trinity, lost membership. However, then-pastor Gilbert Theodore Otte remained firm in keeping the church in the downtown area. The 1931 church structure was recognized for its historical significance by the city of Detroit in 1979, by the state of Michigan in 1982, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
Membership, however, declined, with only 112 church members in 1981. Additional programs were instituted, and membership more than tripled in five years. The church continues to be a gathering place for Detroit Lutherans, with over 1600 members in 2003. Today the parish operates under the Historic Trinity name under the umbrella of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
.