Trinity History

The Early Years

The roots of Trinity Lutheran Church reach back to 1883 when a group of worshipers asked Dr. Theodore Buenger, a traveling missionary, to conduct worship services in private homes at irregular intervals. Twenty-six years later, in 1908, Professor William Moenkemoeller of Concordia College in Saint Paul helped this group formally organize. On October 10, 1909, a meeting was held and a preliminary constitution was approved. The congregation was then officially organized as Die Evangelische Lutherische Dreieingkeits Gemeinde. For obvious reasons, it was known as the “German Lutheran Church.”

The young parish did not have a full-time pastor until Pastor Edward Joesting was installed on May 16, 1920. About a week later, on May 27, the congregation incorporated in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin as Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Having accomplished this, they could purchase a house on the corner of Sixth and St. Croix Streets to be used as a parsonage.

Worship services continued in private homes and a bit later in “borrowed” churches, particularly Ebenezer and Zion Lutheran churches in Hudson.

On May 1, 1924, a resolution was passed to build a church if the necessary funds could be acquired. On October 18, 1925 the completed building was dedicated to the glory of the Triune God. For the next 42 years this sturdy brick building housed Trinity’s ministry, focused on worship, education, outreach, and service in the community and, through the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, out in the world. It was a family church that cared for people and educated children and adults. It was also a home and refuge through the great depression, two world wars, and much cultural change.

Mid-Century Growth

Trinity continued to grow steadily. In February of 1967 a planning committee was formed and plans were developed to build new worship space, as well as space for offices, classrooms, and fellowship. A kitchen was also added. The new building was dedicated on June 21, 1970.

By the early 1980’s, the growth of the congregation necessitated another building expansion. By this time “Trinity Tots” Preschool was already in its fourth year and had almost 100 students. In September of 1985 additional classroom, narthex, and office space was added to help with this growth.

In August 1993 Trinity Lutheran School opened and added one grade each year through the fifth grade. In order to accommodate this growth the congregation authorized the removal of the original church building, the additions of a multi-purpose room/gym, a gathering room, an additional classroom and the renovation of the prior expansion into offices and conference room. This first phase was completed in April of 1998. On October 17, 1999, another addition was dedicated which provided seven classrooms and school offices for the growing elementary school.

Expanding Beyond Our Borders

While God has blessed Trinity over the years with beautiful and very functional buildings, the congregation has seen its facilities as only a staging area for reaching out further into the community and the world with the love of God.

In the 1950’s, Trinity helped to establish Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in River Falls as a campus ministry at UW-River Falls and a town congregation. 

In the 1990’s, Trinity helped to give birth to Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Houlton. 

Over the years, numerous short-term mission teams have gone to over 28 countries and states to help congregations with their ministries and outreach. The congregation has also helped sponsor a number of missionaries. Most recently, in 2007, Trinity committed itself to supporting the Rev. Jake Gillard and his family in their mission work in Uganda.

Around the turn of the century, Pastor Dan Bruch had a vision of expanding Trinity’s ministry toward the growing east edge of the Hudson community. When a large parcel of land became available at County Road UU and US Highway 12, Trinity was able to purchase the property at a generous price and then sell all but 15 acres to someone else at a price that enabled the church to begin construction of the Family Center as a child care and preschool center.

With a grant from the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Trinity was able to call Pastor Mark Tewes to serve with Pastor Bruch and help lead the outreach from the Family Center. During the first year of the Center, a Saturday evening worship service was started. In 2003 the first Sunday service was held with a second service begun the following year.

By the beginning of Trinity’s one hundredth year, in 2008, the congregation had grown to over 2350 members with an average of 700 in worship every week, almost double the number of worshipers from 2000. In addition, Trinity serves nearly 500 children every week through its elementary, preschool, childcare, and youth ministry. Hundreds of adults are involved in small groups, study and prayer ministries, outreach, and volunteer service in the congregation and the community.

God has, indeed, blessed Trinity over its first 100 years and enabled the congregation to reach out to thousands of people with the Gospel of the Messiah Jesus. But all of it is just a prelude and preparation for the work that God still has for this family of believers as the church enters a new century of discipleship and service to Him.