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, Wisconsin. It is recognized as a Milwaukee Landmark. You can find it in the historic Walker's Point area of the city.
Contents
About Saint Stephen Church
This church is named after Saint Stephen. He was a very important person in early Christianity, known as the first martyr.
Church History
Early Beginnings: 1850s
St. Stephen's started as a small mission church in 1853. It was called Die Evangelische-Lutherische St. Stephanus-Gemeinde. Members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church helped set it up. They wanted to serve people living south of the Menomonee River.
The first meetings were in an old school building. The church officially began in 1854. Most of its first members were German immigrants.
Growing and Building: 1857-1879
In 1857, the church moved to 5th and Mineral Street. A new church building was constructed there. It cost $2,200, plus $650 for the land. A school building was also built next to it in 1865.
As more people joined, a bigger church was needed. The old wooden church was sold for $4,500. It was moved to a new spot. A new piece of land was bought for $1,900. This was at the corner of 5th and Scott Street.
A new church was built there in 1866 for $20,000. In 1879, a tall tower was added. It had a clock with four faces, made by E. Howard & Co.
A New Look: 1901-1902
By 1901, the church needed many repairs. So, they decided to tear down the old building. They kept the tower and built a new church around it. Architects Otto Uehling and George Griswold designed the current building.
It cost $43,000 to build. The church has a Gothic style. It is made of red brick with limestone details. The old tower was also covered in these new materials. This church was one of the first buildings in Milwaukee to use steel and masonry.
Music and Organs
In July 1902, the first organ was added to the new church. The organ used today was put in in 1941. It is a Wangerin organ with three keyboards and 2,100 pipes.
After a big renovation, the organ was rededicated in 2004. This was part of the church's 150th anniversary celebration.
Serving New Communities
In the 1930s, many Mexican immigrants moved to the area. They came to work in local factories. Over time, the German-American population moved to other parts of the city. This made the area mostly Hispanic.
In 1964, St. Stephen's became a Spanish Mission Church. This meant it started offering church services in Spanish. Services in English had already begun in the 1920s.
