Text Box: Trinity Lutheran Church and School   “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 our tomorrows. -The Rev. Dr. W. Harry Krieger-1949   The history of Trinity Lutheran Church begins with Lutheran missionaries sent, before 1880, to gather and to minister to the scattered German Lutherans throughout the northwest section of the lower peninsula of Michigan.   The first organized Lutheran parishes were in Good Harbor, Leland, and Petoskey.    The organizer of Trinity Lutheran Church was the Rev. M.H. Feddersen.    He was ordained as pastor to Zion Lutheran Church in Petoskey and missionary-at-large to northern Michigan on September 4, 1881 by Pastor John Karrer of Leland.   The first services for Trinity Lutheran Church were held in Grace Episcopal Church, whose sanctuary was then located on west State Street.   On Easter Sunday March 25, 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.   In 1884 the first home for Trinity parish was built on the corner of Oak and 7th on land donated by Traverse City pioneer Perry Hannah.  The first sanctuary was a modest frame building measuring 28 feet wide, 40 feet long and 16 feet high (front cover of the Program).   Its cost was $700 and when it was dedicated on July 13, 1884 there was not any indebtedness.   The dedication services were conducted in both German and English with singing accompanied by the brass band from Immanuel Lutheran in Leland.     This building was enlarged in 1909 with the addition of chancel and steeple and again in 1938 with the addition of a full basement and balcony (second picture-front cover).   Following the departure of Pastor Harsch in 1889, the congregation endured a pastoral vacancy for five years.  In 1894 the Rev. Wm. Bekemeier was installed as pastor and remained until he accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran in Arcadia in 1899.   Under Pr. Bekemeier’s guidance, the congregation joined the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1895.   The Rev. Louis Mueller served a brief pastorate from 1899-1901.  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 Pr. Bruer’s leadership the congregation made significant progress.  In 1913, the Rev. E.F. Hutfilz was called as pastor and remained until 1921.   He was succeeded by the Rev. C. A. Rook, who served until 1929.   On November 10, 1929, the Rev. Lorenz C.C. Grueber was installed as pastor to Trinity.  In 1932 the congregation celebrated its Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary) with a membership of 187 baptized souls and 110 communicant members.  Pr. Grueber served Trinity until July of 1948 when he became the first full-time chaplain of the Traverse City State Hospital.   During Pr. Grueber’s ministry, the need for a larger church became evident and initial plans for the move to 13th and Maple were laid under his guidance.   In 1948, the Rev. W. Harry Krieger succeeded Pr. Grueber.  Groundbreaking ceremonies for a new church on the corner of 13th and Maple were held on July 18, 1948.  Comstock Construction began work on the new edifice immediately and its cornerstone was laid May 1, 1949.   On October 30, 1949 (The Festival of the Reformation) the congregation processed from its  beloved home on Oak and 7th to the new sanctuary and dedicated it and its new Day School to the glory of God.  Richly furnished with Italian marble, radiant stained glass, and a new pipe organ, the new church was the “talk of the town”. Trinity Lutheran School opened its doors in 1950 with Merle Bredehoeft serving as principal and Mrs. Marie Bathke as kindergarten teacher.