Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church of Milwaukee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church |
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| Iglesia Luterana San Esteban | |
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Die Evangelische-Lutherische St. Stephanus-Gemeinde
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| 43°01′09″N 87°54′59″W / 43.0193°N 87.9164°W | |
| Location | 1136 South Fifth Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod |
| History | |
| Founded | 1853 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Milwaukee Landmark |
| Architect(s) | Otto Uehling |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1901–1902 |
| Administration | |
| District | South Wisconsin District of the LCMS |
St. Stephen Lutheran Church, also known as Iglesia Luterana San Esteban, is a special building in Milwaukee. It's recognized as a Milwaukee Landmark. You can find it in the historic Walker's Point area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Contents
Who Was Saint Stephen?
Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church is named after Saint Stephen. He was an important figure in early Christianity. People remember him as the very first person to die for his Christian faith.
A Look Back: St. Stephen's History
Starting Small: The First Church
St. Stephen's began as a small "mission church" in 1853. It was called Die Evangelische-Lutherische St. Stephanus-Gemeinde. Members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church started it. They wanted to help people living south of the Menomonee River. The first meetings were in an old school building. Most of the first members were German immigrants. The church officially started in 1854.
Building and Growing: New Homes
In 1857, the church moved to 5th and Mineral Street. They built a new church for $2,200. The land cost an extra $650. A school building was also built next to it in 1865.
The church quickly grew, so they needed a bigger space. They sold the old wooden church to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church for $4,500. It was moved to a new spot. St. Stephen's bought land at 5th and Scott Street for $1,900. A new church was built there in 1866 for $20,000.
Adding a Tower and a Clock
In 1879, a tall tower was added to the church. Inside the tower, a special clock was installed. It had four faces and was made by E. Howard & Co. from Boston, Massachusetts.
A New Look: The Current Building
By 1901, the church needed many repairs. So, they decided to build a brand new church. They kept the old tower but built a new structure around it. Architects Otto Uehling and George Griswold designed the church you see today. It cost $43,000 to build.
The church is built in the Gothic style. It uses red brick with limestone details. The tower was also covered in these same materials. This church was one of the first buildings in Milwaukee to use a strong steel-masonry design.
The Church Organ
The first organ was put in the church in July 1902. The organ used today is a large Wangerin organ. It has three keyboards and 2,100 pipes! This amazing organ was installed in 1941. After a big update and a new control panel, the organ was celebrated again in 2004. This was part of the church's 150th anniversary.
A Changing Community
In the 1930s, many Mexican immigrants moved to the area. They came to work in local factories. Later, in the 1950s, many German-American families moved out of the city. This led to the area becoming mostly Hispanic. Because of these changes, St. Stephen's became a Spanish Mission Church in 1964. They started offering church services in Spanish. Services in English had already begun in the 1920s.
