Germans living in Saint Paul who wanted the Lutheran liturgy to be conducted in English were the impetus behind the formation of an English-speaking Lutheran Church in St. Paul. An all-English service was first conducted in 1888 at St. John’s Lutheran Church located at 8th and Locust. Two years later, on January 8, 1890, a meeting was held in the basement of St. John’s, and its name and affiliation were changed. It was now to be known as The English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer of the City of St. Paul affiliated with the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri and the Other States. As the congregation grew in size and the neighborhood began to undergo changes a decision was made to relocate the church. In 1908 land was purchased on the corner of Dale and Carroll and a new church was dedicated on March 19, 1911. As the congregation continued to grow it once again had to decide whether to erect a new church at a different location or enlarge the present one. The congregation elected to stay in the Rondo neighborhood and expand its church doubling its former seating capacity. The new addition was dedicated in 1922. The years following WWII saw dramatic changes in the neighborhood’s demographics. Many members of Redeemer began to move to the suburbs, the housing stock began to deteriorate, and then came the building of I-94 that all but destroyed the neighborhood. In response, the congregation took the positive step of erecting Redeemer’s Arms, a senior citizen home that fulfilled the needs of the elderly living in the neighborhood, and a Learning Center. The church and its outreach programs continue to service the needs of its surrounding community.
Current location: 285 N. Dale Street
Timeline:
1888: First English Lutheran service conducted in the basement of St John’s Lutheran Church, 8th & Locust.
1890: Meeting held at St. John’s, name changed to English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer of the City of St. Paul.
1908: Land for new church purchased at the corner of Dale and Carroll, where it remains.
Clergy: J. Adam Detzer 1890-1900; Henry Haserodt 1900-03; Oscar C Kreinheder 1903-20; Paul Lindemann 1920-38.