Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
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Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1046 N. 9th St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | Frederick Velguth |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000099 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1979 |
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is a beautiful church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was built in 1878. The church has a special design called Victorian Gothic style. When it was new, people said it was "the finest church" in its group, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
Today, Trinity Church is very important. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical site in the United States. It is also a State Historic Site in Wisconsin. In 1967, it became a Milwaukee Landmark. It is the oldest church in Milwaukee connected to the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
Contents
The Church's History
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How Trinity Church Started
Trinity Church was founded by German immigrants. These people came from a place called Pomerania in Europe. They started arriving in Milwaukee in the late 1830s. They came to America to freely practice their traditional Lutheran faith. They did not want the government in their home country to tell them how to worship.
In 1847, a disagreement happened. This led to the creation of the Trinity congregation. They asked for a pastor from the Missouri Synod. This group also had German roots and spoke German. E.G.W. Keyl became their pastor. He helped set up the church's rules. Trinity Church, along with other churches like St. Stephen Lutheran Church, helped start many other Lutheran churches nearby.
Early Buildings and Growth
Trinity's first church building was on 4th Street. It opened in 1847. In 1851, they built a bigger wooden church at 4th and Wells. By 1869, they moved that church to where the current church stands. They also built a school next to it. A college, Concordia College, even started in that school building in 1881.
By 1878, the church needed an even bigger building. The congregation had grown a lot.
The Church's Design
Building a New Church
The famous architect Frederick Velguth designed the new church. He combined two styles: High Victorian Gothic and German Gothic. These styles make the building look very tall. It has towers, spires, and tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. Everything points upwards, towards the sky.
The outside walls are made of a special light-colored brick. This brick is called Cream City brick. It was made right there in Milwaukee. The church also has stone details on its front.
Inside the Church
The church is shaped like a cross. It is about 145 feet long and 89 feet wide. The main part is 54 feet tall. It has three towers. The tallest tower is a landmark. It stands about 200 feet high!
Inside, a very old organ is a special feature. It is a Schuelke organ from 1879. It has about 1,600 pipes! The church also has beautiful carved wood. The pulpit, where the pastor speaks, is shaped like a goblet. It shows amazing craftsmanship. The whole church cost $43,500 to build. The organ alone cost $3,500.
This type of German architecture is common in downtown Milwaukee. You can see similar buildings in the nearby Pabst Brewery area. In 2005, a new office building and conference center were built next to the church.
The 2018 Fire
What Happened
On May 15, 2018, Trinity Church caught fire. Construction work was happening at the time. The Milwaukee Fire Department sent many firefighters to help. The fire caused about $17 million in damage. The entire roof collapsed. One of the shorter steeples also fell down.
Luckily, no one was hurt in the fire. The damage was so bad that people wondered if the church could ever be rebuilt. But after checking, experts found that the brick walls were not damaged. So, rebuilding began!
Rebuilding and Recovery
The historic Schuelke pipe organ from 1879 was badly damaged. This organ is listed as a "historic organ" by the Organ Historical Society. While the church was being repaired, worship services were held at a local funeral home. The community worked hard to bring their historic church back to life.
