Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS)

History of Trinity Lutheran Church and School

Click here for the Pastor Fritz retirement page.

In the 1880's, Immanuel Bremen congregation covered a wide area making it difficult for some of the members to go to worship services and send their children to school.  Fifteen members of Immanuel asked for a peaceful release to establish a new congregation.  On April 12, 1880, an organizational meeting was held in the home of Peter Munstermann.  The name chosen for the new congregation was "German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation of Horseshoe Creek".  The church was dedicated on August 22, 1880, by Pastor Polack of Immanuel, Bremen, who served the congregation since its beginning.  With the church completed the parsonage was finished in the spring of 1881.

At the May 10th meeting, the salary for a pastor was placed at $400 per year.  In September, they began calling for a pastor.  It wasn't until April 18, 1881, when Rev. E.A. Frese of Columbus, Nebraska, was called, and he accepted.  Pastor Frese was installed as the first pastor of Trinity on Ascension Day, May 26, 1881.

Pastor Frese knew of the need for Christian education, so he started a parochial school and taught the children of the congregation.  School was held in the church building during the week for twelve years.

During the year of 1882, the congregation enlarged its property by buying three additional acres on the north side of the road.  In 1883, they built an addition on the north side of the parsonage.  In 1884, the name of the congregation was changed to "The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Congregation of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession".  It was also officially incorporated under the laws of the State of Kansas.  The church seal was acquired in 1884 with the design of an "Angel with the Bible".  On August 21, 1888, Trinity resolved to join the Missouri Synod as a voting congregation.

Pastor Frese served Trinity for seven years.  On August 21, 1888, he accepted a call to Immanuel of Strawberry, Kansas.

On September 2, 1888, the congregation called Pastor J.H. Hoyer.  Pastor Hoyer accepted the call and was installed as Trinity's second pastor on October 28, 1888.  The salary given him was $500 annually and two bushels of corn per member.  He served the congregation and school for eleven and a half years.

The number of members had increased, and as a result on February 1, 1892, it was decided to build a new church.  Plans included twelve foot benches, a one thousand pound bell, and a balcony around the sides.  The new church was dedicated on December 11, 1892.

On March 5, 1900, due to illness, Pastor Hoyer asked to be relieved of teaching school and recommended calling a regular school teacher.  The voters rejected the motion, and so Pastor Hoyer asked for his release since he felt unable to do the work required.

On April 2, 1900, the voters extended a call to Pastor Henry Grupe.  He accepted the call and was installed as pastor of Trinity on May 8, 1900.  During his first eight years, he taught school in addition to his pastorial duties.  In 1903, the parsonage was enlarged.

In 1907, enrollment reached 46 children, and so it was decided to call a teacher with experience.  With the coming of a new teacher, the congregation decided to build a teacherage. On August 23, 1908, Martin F. Lueders was installed as the first parochial teacher.  He served the congregation as organist, choir director, secretary of the congregation, and conductor of Horseshoe Farmer's Band for 30 years.

In 1920, the present two manual pipe organ was purchased for the church.  In July of 1921, Pastor Grupe resigned from the ministry because of advanced age.  He had served the congregation for 21 years.

Pastor W. Mahler was installed on October 16, 1921.  Then several changes were made in the congregation.  Meetings were opened with a hymn, Scripture reading, and prayer.  To help the treasurer, the congregation was divided into three districts, and a collector was elected for each one.  Because of World War I, instruction in school was changed from German to English.  After 1922, German was reintroduced in school instruction.

When difficulty was encountered finding a new teacher in the summer of 1945, the congregation decided to discontinue the use of German in school.  The 1946 confirmation class was the first class to be confirmed in English.

In 1948, enough money was raised to install light fixtures and to wire the buildings for electricity.  At a reception on July 17, 1949, for the new principal, Arthur Eismann, the switch was thrown for the first use of electric light at the school.  While this was done, the band played and the crowd sang the doxology.

During the 1950's, English services were held every Sunday, and German services were held on the first Sunday of each month.  Christenlehre was held during the English service, but by 1956 this practice was dropped.  Christenlehre was a lesson based on the catechism for grade school children through age 15 held during the church service.

In 1958, the congregation decided to hold German services in the morning and English services in the evening on the first Sunday of each month.  All services were held in English after September 1968.

In the early 1960's, the interior of the church was painted which covered up the German lettering in the front which meant "God's Word and Luther's Doctrine shall not perish now nor ever." 

A decision needed to be reached in 1976 as to whether to remodel the current church or build a new church.  It was decided to build a new church.  The new church was dedicated on August 19, 1979.