A Brief History of Trinity Lutheran Church

by

Eunice Pines, church historian

 In writing the history of a Christian congregation, we merely trace the hand of the Eternal God.  He is the Lord of all of our yesterdays, even as He is the Hope of all of our tomorrows.  God’s hand is evident throughout the Congregation’s past history – a hand that guided, that helped, and that has and will continue to heap blessing upon blessing.

                                The Reverend Dr. W. Harry Krieger, 1949

The first Lutheran missionaries to come to this northern section of Michigan in the 1870’s held divine services in the homes of the faithful. As Pastors Bruss and Karrer worked to establish missions in the northwest section of the State, the Holy Spirit continued to work in the small living room based flocks.

 The first pastor and organizer of Trinity Lutheran Church was the Rev. M. H. Feddersen, an 1881 graduate of Concordia Seminary in Springfield, Illinois.  Pastor Feddersen was ordained in Petoskey on September 4^th, 1881 by Pastor John Karrer of Leland as missionary-at-large to Northern Michigan.  In time, Pastor Feddersen’s preaching circuit included 10 stations, which included Traverse City.  Trinity’s first records, written by Pastor Feddersen, show he visited Traverse City for the first time on May 16,1882. He visited Traverse City two more times that year on July 16 and October 6. 

On Easter Sunday, March 25^th, 1883, Trinity Lutheran Church was officially organized. Officers were elected and the Constitution of the new parish was read. The Constitution was later recorded in the Grand Traverse County Registrar’s Office on June 21, 1883, together with the Articles of Incorporation.

Perry Hannah, a pioneer in the Grand Traverse region, donated land at the corner of Seventh and Oak Streets for the first Trinity Church building.  Members of the congregation gathered $700.00 to build a modest frame building of hand-hewn cedar and hemlock measuring 28 feet wide, 40 feet long and 16 feet high.  When it was dedicated on July 13, 1884, there was no indebtedness. The dedication service was conducted in both German and English with singing accompanied by the brass band from Immanuel Lutheran in Leland. 

The small congregation of German and English speaking settlers continued to meet and grow by God’s grace. The Word of God was preached; the saints were baptized and fed the Lord’s Supper. Soon the young congregation outgrew its humble site and in 1909 expanded the building. Expansion was necessary again in 1938 when the congregation added a basement, chancel, balcony and steeple.

Several Pastors and divinity students in the early days helped this fledgling congregation.  The Rev. John Harsch became the first resident Pastor in 1885.  The congregation built a parsonage on Second Street and Pastor opened a Christian Day School in his home .The earliest  record  of confirmation  at Trinity was on  April 18,1886 by  Rev. Harsch. The confirmands were: Johanna Carolina Christina Hacker, Karl Christian Ludwig Hacker, Louise Koenig, Agnes Augusta Koenig, Julius Koenig, Delia Ottilie Pilz, Rosa Emilie Pilz, Johanna Philoppine Rehder. On  August 8, 1886, he confirmed Paulina Augusta Janke. Additional confirmation classes during his tenure were April 1, 1888 with a class of 8 and April 14, 1889 with a class of 3.  Rev. Harsch served Trinity and other mission churches in the area until 1889.  To reach these missions, he traveled by horse and buggy in the summer and by cutter and sleigh in the winter.

On the 7^th February 1886, Rudolf Wiedoeft donated communion vessels and a baptismal font to the congregation.  The cost was $23.40.  He and his son raised $40.00.  The balance was to be used for an organ.

After graduating from Concordia Seminary, Springfield, IL in 1894, the Rev. William Bekemeier was commissioned to be a traveling missionary in the northwest area of Michigan with headquarters in Traverse City. Under Pastor Bekemeier’s guidance, the congregation joined the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1895.  He accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran in Arcadia in 1899.

In 1899 the Rev. Louis Mueller became Pastor of Trinity and organized the Young People’s Society and Trinity’s first choir. In 1901 the Rev. Wm. Schweppe was called to serve Trinity, but was to remain pastor to St. Matthew’s in Mancelona traveling between the parishes and residing in Traverse City.  He accepted a call to Sandorus, IL in 1906.

Trinity remained without a shepherd until the Rev. Samuel Bruer was called in September 1908.  Under Pastor Bruer’s leadership the congregation made significant progress.  In 1913, the Rev. E. F. Hutfilz was called as pastor and remained until 1921.  In 1922, he was succeeded by the Rev. C. A. Rook who served Trinity until 1929.  Pastor Rook was highly regarded by the young people of the church and the ” Young People’s Society” or Walther League grew and flourished under his pastorate.

On November 10, 1929, Rev. Lorenz C. C. Grueber  was installed as pastor to Trinity.  The 1932 congregational records show that Trinity had grown to a membership of 187 baptized souls and 110 communicant members. The Reverend Grueber shepherded Trinity through the great depression and two world wars. In 1948 he became full-time chaplain of the Traverse City State Hospital. During Pastor Grueber’s ministry, the need for a larger church became evident and initial plans for the move to 13^th and Maple were laid under his guidance.

In 1948, the Reverend W. Harry Krieger was called to serve Trinity and began guiding the construction of the new facility. The groundbreaking service was held on July 18, 1948 and on May 1, 1949,  the cornerstone was laid at the corner of 13th and Maple Streets in Traverse City.

 The new church was splendidly appointed with ecclesiastical furnishings and art to show the reverence of this congregation for their Savior. A marble altar and pulpit were made in Pietrasanta, Italy.  Stained glass windows, in the style of the Munich school, were designed to tell the story of the life of Christ.  The congregation also purchased its first pipe organ, a nine rank Schlicker Organ that incorporated the cathedral chimes from the former church building.  It was the first new church building built in Traverse City after World War ll.

On Reformation Sunday, October 30, 1949 the new sanctuary and school were dedicated to the glory of God.  Louis DeYoung Sr. carried the communion ware and Harold (Skip) Ramoie carried the cross in the processional march from the old sanctuary on Oak and Seventh to the new on 13^th and Maple Streets. Louis DeYoung Sr, died in 2004 at the age of 104 while Harold Ramoie died at the age of 91 on Nov. 21, 2007.

Trinity Lutheran School opened its doors in 1950 with Merle Bredehoeft serving as principal and Mrs. Marie Bathke as kindergarten teacher.

In  1952, with membership expansion continuing, Trinity’s Mission Board asked for authorization to begin a mission congregation on the east side of the city. St. Michael and All Angels Lutheran Church was the result. After years of work, St. Michael’s dedicated their sanctuary on August 19, 1956.

Trinity congregation expanded rapidly in its new home.  By October 1953 the communicant membership had doubled. Organizations including the Ladies Aid, Dorcas Society (organized in 1946), the Daughters of Mary of Bethany Altar Guild (organized in 1948), LWML, PTA, Men’s Club, and Walther League were all formed to meet the needs of the growing congregation.

 In 1957, Pastor W. Harry Krieger was elected President of the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. While the duties of the position were full time, Dr. Krieger wished to keep his position as Trinity’s Pastor so his brother the Rev. Eugene Krieger was called to help with the Pastoral duties of the congregation. He had previously served as a vicar to Trinity from 1953-54. Other vicars during this time were the Rev. Ray Martins (19545-54) and Rev. John Elliot (1958-59).

 In 1960, the congregation’s planning committee recommended the construction of a larger school building. Before this could be accomplished, Dr. Krieger was asked to devote full-time to the presidency of the District and ended his Pastorate at Trinity. At the same time, his brother Eugene accepted a call to serve Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, MI.

The Rev. Arthur Hawlicheck was installed to serve Trinity as its pastor in 1961.  During his pastorate personal evangelism and attendance at Bible classes were stressed with renewed emphasis.  Pastor Hawlicheck accepted a call to Patterson, New Jersey in 1964. 

 In September 1965, the school addition became a reality during the ministry of Reverend Walter Pieper. The new facility was constructed in 1966 at a cost of $130,000 and added four classrooms, a principal’s office, a storage room, restrooms and a small library to the east end of the building.

 In 1967, Mrs. Belle Payne retired from Trinity after 43 years of faithful service as Trinity’s organist.

In 1971, the Reverend Edwin V. Fitz was installed as the new pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. Under the guidance of Pastor Fitz and the work of the Holy Spirit the congregation’s membership continued to grow.  By the time of Trinity’s centennial celebration in 1983, the congregation had grown to 1,046 baptized and 719 communicate members. Trinity also participated in the vicarage program and had a vicar every year from 1976 to 1985. The school mortgage was paid off, summer services began at Jellystone Park  and weekly Saturday evening services began at Trinity. The beloved Pastor Fitz retired and preached his last sermon at Trinity on October 5, 1986.  Pastor Fitz entered eternal life April 19, 2007.  Funeral services were held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Marquette, MI on April 22, 2007.

 In 1985 the Reverend Charles Gieschen was called to serve Trinity as Assistant Pastor. Following the retirement of Pastor Fitz, the Reverend Raymond Pollatz was installed as Administrative Pastor on June 14, 1987.  At the same service, Pastor Gieschen was elevated to the position of Associate Pastor of the Congregation.

By 1986 the congregation was again running low on space to serve its growing membership. In the Fall of 1987, the “Building for Christ” fund raising program was initiated and it surpassed its goal of securing at least $650,000 in pledges from Trinity’s faithful toward a building expansion.

 Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on May 1, 1988.The faithful watched as senior members Louis DeYoung and Gladys Johnson turned over the first spades full of dirt.   Construction began with the building of the new gymnasium, which was to serve as the congregation’s temporary sanctuary while work was done on the expansion of the church. On July 31, 1988, final services were held in the 1949 sanctuary.  Following the 11 o’clock service, the congregation moved in procession from the sanctuary to the newly completed gymnasium with the sacred vessels and appointments. On October 30, 1988, the cornerstone was laid with holy rite and ritual.

On March 19, 1989, after almost seven months of worshipping in the gymnasium, the congregation returned to its expanded sanctuary in procession, bearing the sacred vessels and appointments back “home”.  The pulpit, baptismal font, and altar were reconsecrated at the 8:30 service. A weeklong celebration began in April and climaxed on Sunday April 16, 1989 when the congregation processed from the gymnasium to the new entrance where the ribbon was cut and the doors opened.  Rev. John Heins, then President of the Michigan District, was the preacher.

The loved 1949 sanctuary was turned around end-for-end and a new chancel was built.

 The new sanctuary now has the traditional cathedral shape of a cross, with transepts going out to the north and south to allow for additional seating. Great care was exercised in designing it to match architecturally with the Modern Gothic design of the original sanctuary.  Almost all the furnishings of the 1949 church were incorporated into the new sanctuary.  Complementing the two previous “great” windows is a new window in the south transept. Renovation of the former classroom wing  (1949) created a new entrance to the Church, ground level restrooms, coatrooms, member mailboxes, nursery a   large meeting room and an elevator.  Other additions were a 120-space parking lot. In addition to the gymnasium, two new classrooms, an expanded library, an expanded kitchen, new archives storage rooms, additional storage space and new offices were all part of the $2.1 million building project.

 In 1989, the 39^th rank Schantz  pipe organ was installed, over 2200 pipes some of which were reused from the Schlicker organ. The new organ again incorporated the Maas Cathedral Chimes originally in the church on Oak and Seventh Streets.

Pastor Pollatz accepted a call to serve Chapel of the Lakes Lutheran Church in Mecosta, MI in 1994. Pastor Gieschen remained and was advanced to the position of Senior Pastor. In 1996,the Rev. Dr. Charles Gieschen, who had been serving as Trinity’s Senior Pastor was called to teach at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN.  Pastor Donald Engebretson, Trinity’s Associate Pastor, was called to serve as Senior Pastor and served in that capacity until 2000.  During this time, he also served briefly as interim principal of the school during a vacancy in the late 90’s. He was assisted in the interim period by the Rev. Dr. Paul  Zimmerman (retired) and Pastor Eugene Krieger (retired) before another pastor could be issued a divine call.   In 1997, Rev. Charles J. Koehler Jr. began to serve Trinity Lutheran Church as   Assistant Pastor.  He resigned as Pastor of Trinity in 2002.

Pastor Engebretson accepted a call to serve St. Peter Lutheran Church of Polar, WI in 2000 to be near his ailing mother.  The Rev. Dr. Paul Zimmerman was called to serve as Interim Senior Pastor to Trinity congregation in 2000 with the departure of Pastor Engebretson.

In 2006 Trinity completed a renovation and expansion of its school facility with the addition of two pre-school classrooms, school offices and Media Center, a renovated kindergarten classroom and renovation to other rooms in the 1978 education wing.  The completion of a renovation and expansion of the congregation’s pipe organ to 67 ranks by the George M. Buck Pipe Organ Company of Grand Rapids was accomplished as well in 2005-06.  

Presently in 2008, three Pastors serve Trinity.  Pastor Robert M. Zagore was installed as Senior Pastor in 2001. Rev. Chad Erwin Hoover was installed as Assistant Pastor in 2004. The Rev. Dr. Charles W. Webb accepted a call to serve as Assistant Pastor and its Medical Missionary-at-Large in January 2006.

The congregation has experienced renewed growth and stability, and an interest in mission outreach, particularly on an international level.  Trinity congregation has participated in mission trips to Guatemala, Kenya and Cambodia and is active in the efforts to re-establish a Lutheran presence in Wittenberg, Germany (birthplace of the Lutheran Reformation) with the Wittenberg Project.  Pastor Robert Zagore, Senior Pastor, led the first mission trip to Guatemala with Trinity’s youth. 

Rev Chad Hoover, Assistant Pastor to Trinity, led a trip to Biloxi, MS following Hurricane Katrina and the recent 2008 mission trip Cambodia. Dr. Webb has participated in or led mission trips to Guatemala and Kenya. He is also the Trinity Lutheran Church Web Master.

As Trinity celebrates its 125^th year of God’s grace, its baptized membership stands at 1704 souls with 1133 communicants.  Trinity Lutheran School enrollment numbers of 143 students, which includes 31 students enrolled in the Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten programs. Bible classes, children’s Sunday School, confirmation classes for youth and adults and adult education classes comprise other areas of education at Trinity. In addition there is the Deaf Ministry, CORP youth program from 5^th – 12^th grade, MOPS   (Pre-school Mothers), LA TLC  Medical Mission Society, Dorcas Society, Trinity Altar Guild, Boy Scouts  and others.

Trinity supports a Food Bank and participates in the Community Meal Program and hosts the Thanksgiving and Christmas Meal Programs. 

Our Heavenly Father has given His children of Trinity Lutheran Church a glorious history of service and dedication to Jesus Christ. 

SOLI DEO GLORIA