1856, Summer Northern District, MO Synod sent Missionary Ferdinand Sievers to explore what was then the Minnesota Territory. 1861 Rev. August Winter, a traveling missionary, ministered to small groups of Lutherans near Cannon City, Dundas, Faribault 1863 Rev. John Horst of Hay Creek continues ground work of two early missionaries. Founds Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Wheeling Township with eight charter members. Henry Dammeier farm house purchased for worship; cemetery property purchased. 1865 - 1867 Rev. John Herzer, Claremont, leads small congregation; Rev. Christian Krause installed as Emmanuel's first resident pastor. Emmanuel congregation disbanded as United Reformed Church was more established in the area. 1868 Rev. Krause moves his ministry to Faribault's 4,000 residents. Organizes Trinity congregation, constitution adopted New Year's Day, 1870 in the Metropolitan Hall of Faribault with 30 charter members signing. Two former Emmanuel members included. 1870 Pastor Krause resigns due to poor health; dies in Carver County in 1873, age 31. November, Rev. August Sippel installed as Trinity's second pastor. 1871 February, congregation purchases Lot 7 of Block 39 (66 x 165 ft.) in Faribault. September, congregation passes resolution to erect house of worship. The 34 x 60 ft. brick building constructed on the site of the current two story brick school, completed late 1871. Seating capacity: 166. Cost: $3,300. Not used for worship until 1873; rented to flour milling company as warehouse. 1873 June 4th, Trinity's first building dedicated. Pastor Sippel accepts call in October. Parish without pastor for more than a year. 1874 December, Rev. John S. Hertrich installed as third pastor. Living quarters provided on Faribault Main St. for $10/mo. Later small house east of church provided for $96/yr. Members give $.75/mo. to cover expense. 1875 December, combination school (one room) and parsonage built behind church on west side of lot. It was later moved to 5th St. Pastor Hertrich taught school until 1881. 1881 July 7th, candidate Henry Schulz installed as fourth pastor. Given permission to organize/conduct a choir. Continues mission preaching to Richland Township, Dundas, No. Morristown, Deerfield. Taught school in the parsonage/school for 3 yrs. 1883 Lot north of church/parsonage purchased, extending church property to 5th St. One room school (45 x 26 ft.) built for $1,100. (this building later moved to 8th St. NW and remodeled into an apartment house. 1884 Pastor Schulz stops teaching; Martin Kirsch installed as the school's first full time teacher/principal. 1886 Carl Barckoff builds/installs small church organ ($650). Young men paid $6/yr. to pump bellows handle. 1896 Trinity trades property on Second St. and paid $353.30 for the lots west of the church to the corner of Sixth Ave. (called Plum St.) Plans began to build church on the corner and new parsonage east of it. Building the parsonage was changed to purchasing a 25 yr. old house, moved to the new lot. 1897 Barn behind first church is moved behind the pastor's house. Each member asked to contribute $.25 toward moving cost. Successful collection had $7 surplus. Congregation added $3 and repaid Pastor Hertrich, former pastor, for initially paying for the barn. English language introduced at services held every third Sunday evening. Decision made to start collection for new church. 1900 July, building fund reaches $9,000; decision adopted to start building in the Fall of 1900. November, designed by a St. Paul firm, Trinity members laid the foundation for a 50 x 80 ft. Red Menominee brick building. Cornerstone laid on Nov. 4th with 1000 guests and members. Communicant membership totaled 500. 1901 November 10th, the $16,000 church dedicated with three German services during the day; English evening service with community invited. 1902 First parsonage/school building sold and moved. Much needed hitching posts installed. Old church remodeled into two room school; basement dug, furnace installed. School enrollment 130 students. First full time teacher hired to teach (primary grades) 1-3. Principal taught 4-7. Religion and language classes taught in German. Some secular courses taught in English. Choir paid for installation of electric lights, replacing kerosene lamps. 1906 Pastor Schulz 25th anniversary celebration. 1908 Pastor Schulz advances from vice president to president of MN District (stayed in office until 1912). 1909 Building debt liquidated. 1913 Teacher Martin Kirsch dies; son, Edgar, a seminary student, installed as principal and teacher. 1914 Old organ sold to Immanuel Church of Freedom Township ($275) and replaced by Wicks pipe organ. Immanuel rebuilds organ, still using it in 1995. 1915 Brick, four classroom brick school built; two story part of brick building still being used. Third full time teacher hired. 59 Trinity members serve in WW I. 1920 Edgar Kirsch returns to seminary; Adolph Kramer becomes third principal. 1921 English services moved from Sunday evenings to Sunday mornings, once a month. 1922 School adds complete 8th grade course study. 1924 Sunday School classes conducted offered in both German and English prior to services. 1925 English used in all school subjects.; religion and language offered in German. 1926 Sponsored by Trinity, pastors from the Twin Cities area conduct Sunday afternoon services for Faribault's deaf community. 1929 School adds a kindergarten class. 1930 Martin Peters ordained/installed as assistant pastor to help Pastor Schulz with the English work at the school. 1931 January, minutes of congregation meetings begin to be recorded in English and German. 1932 March, Pastor Peters accepts call to Guttenberg, IA. In July Pastor Schulz retires his 50 yr. ministry for failing health; congregation pays him small monthly gratuity for life. Summer of 1932, Rev. Oswald Volz becomes Trinity's pastor. Weekly Bulletins, memorial wreaths, blanket subscriptions for devotional books and church periodicals begin. Bible classes and family devotions encouraged. Ministry and mission services and Sunday School classes taught by Trinity members begin for the State School & Colony (Faribault Regional Center). 1937 July 30th, Pastor Schulz passes away; buried at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Faribault. 1938 Expansion program discussed to accommodate increased membership and attendance. Architect hired to draw plans for enlarging school and church. 1941 March, congregation meeting minutes recorded and conducted only in English, discontinuing German. Purchase property east of school with two small houses purchased from member, Flora Shipman. In the fall, the school basement meeting room converted to classroom; fifth teacher hired. Enrollment: 248. The Ladies Aid and Young People's Society moved their meetings to an upstairs hall in the Ochs building downtown. December and Pearl Harbor, 167 Trinity members served in WW II, with six deaths. 1943 Fall, basement under church excavated by volunteers; finished off as meeting room, kitchen, restrooms and new furnace. 1944 Church interior redecorated preparing for 75 yr. Diamond Jubilee anniversary. The floor was lowered and concreted, and asphalt tile placed on the top the concrete. The walls were plastered, the ceiling covered, and modern light fixtures installed. At the same time, a kitchen was built at the back to enable church organizations to serve refreshments with greater east at the many functions that are know held here. The labor of this project was donated by members of the congregation. The cost of the improvement was $3,175.00. At this time a new forced air furnace and stoker were installed at a cost of $2,600.00. In the summer of 1944 a contract was let to Roy F. Olson of Marshall, MN to redecorate the church. The plan of the decorator was to give the interior the appearance of being built of brown granite blocks from the floor up to the windows, and of being trimmed in gray granite blocks around the arches and windows. The wall spaces between were finished in a leaf-design stipple. In the arched panel at the front of the auditorium to the right of the center aisle was cemented a large copy of Hoffman�s painting of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane to replace the old Scripture passage which had read in German, "Herr, ich habe lieb die St�tte deines Hauses, und den Ort da deine Ehre wohnet" (Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth. Psalm 26, 8) New modern design light fixtures were also installed to replace the old suspended globes. The woodwork and pews were cleaned and refinished as a part of the redecorating job. The floor was also sanded and refinished at this time with volunteer labor of members of the congregation. The total cost of the job was $2,734.50. The interior decorating that was done in 1944 was the third paint job that was done on the present (ed: 1946) church. The first time was in 1901 at the time the church was built when Mr. George Shippman was engaged to do the painting. In 1926 the interior received its second paint job by Eckstrand and Jacobson of Minneapolis. At the same time a new asbestos shingle roof was put on by Joe Caron and Son. Perhaps the most striking objects of interest to the visitor at Trinity are the two large and beautiful stained glass windows just forward of the center of the building. The west window represents the Resurrection of our Savior, and was given in memory of Mr. Ernest Peterson, a charter member of the congregation, who died on Mar. 27, 1892, and his son, Albert, who died on May 31, 1887. The east window, representing the Ascension of Jesus, was the gift of Ernest Fleckenstein in memory of his wife who died on May 31, 1898. Another object that attracts the eye is the baptismal font which stands in the nave to the left of the aisle and just in front of the chancel. The font, an angel carved in marble, was a gift of Mrs. Otilie Rodewald in memory of her husband, Dietrich Rodewald. (Source #13, Apr. 27, 1919, Oct. 17, 1920) 1946 Jan. 13th, Pastor Waldemar Lemke installed as associate pastor. Diamond Jubilee celebrated in June. End of the year, church acquires 515 NW Fifth St. property. 1947 Pastor Volz accepts call from MN District in July. Replaced by Pastor Lemke. 278 of Trinity's communicants released to form new congregation in Faribault, Peace Lutheran Church. Trinity contributed $10,000 as aid to buy real estate. P. Prigge becomes school principal. 1948 Spring, sponsored by Missouri Synod Lutheran parishes, the first 3-hour Good Friday service held in Faribault theatre. Trinity Radio Club begins broadcasting Sunday morning services over Faribault radio station KDHL. Earlier expansion plans for building rescinded; 1938 architect dismissed. Focus shifted to enlarging the school. 1950 Pastor Herman Kelm, retired Faribault resident, assists Pastor Lemke with German work and was visitation pastor. Trinity members serve in the Korean Conflict (1950-53) armed services. Late in 1950, the German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church; officially becomes Trinity Lutheran Church of Faribault, MN when constitution is revised. 1951 January, church voters enroll eligible employees in the Unites States Social Security program. Architectural firm of Magney-Tussler contracted to design a school addition. 1953 May 10th special dedication service for 3 classrooms and school offices held. New heating plant installed. 1954 Additional property on Fifth St. purchased. 1955 Candidate Dale G. Young ordained/installed as assistant pastor. 1956 Member visitation program - Good Shepherd - begins; later renamed Spiritual Life. Pastor Lemke preaches farewell sermon Sept. 30th; left Faribault to serve Our Saviour's Lutheran in St. Paul. Nov., 1956 new Skinner organ installed in church balcony for $20,000; set of chimes received as gift. 1957 Jan. 13th Rev. O. H. Cloeter installed as senior pastor at Trinity. Feb. special Loyalty Sunday Service held in Faribault High School Auditorium. 1958 Parsonage on 4th St. (for 40 yrs.) sold and moved to make room for school expansion. 225 MN Place home purchased for $20,000 as parsonage for Pastor Cloeter. 1959 Apr. 5th dedication of school addition; included auditorium/gymnasium, locker/shower rooms, kitchen, fellowship room, church offices, 2 classrooms. It connected the church and school. Summer brought the start of using individual communion cups. Home used by Pastor Young sold and moved; he moved to parsonage #2 when Principal G. Prigge purchased his own home. 1960 300 Acres For Christ project; $1,111 profit realized. 1962 Spring installation of kneeling benches in sanctuary approved. 1964 Pastor Young accepts call to Montevideo, MN. Rev. Richard Cloeter, father of Pastor O. H. Cloeter, assists for one year. School enrollment reaches all time high of 289. 1965 Rev. Robert Sorenson becomes assistant pastor; Rev. Cloeter becomes visitation pastor (until 1969). Men and women from Trinity begin serving military service in the Vietnam War. Church brick exterior is sandblasted and tuck-pointed preparing for Trinity's centennial. 1966 Church basement meeting room corner partitioned to create a finance room; project underwritten by Ladies Circles. 1967 Church membership is 1,841 with 1,303 communicants, average weekly attendance of 935 for the year; highest in Trinity's history. Rev. Dennis Lorenz installed as assistant pastor; Pastor Sorenson accepts call in Trimont, MN. 1968 The Brown property on Fifth St. is acquired; it's buildings removed, lot sodded for additional playground. Thirty feet of land, facing Sixth Avenue, was purchased from Ella Kelm. 1969 Pastor Lorenz leaves; candidate James Foley succeeds him on Trinity staff. Bleachers installed in gym/auditorium. Trinity hosts first annual basketball tournament. 1970 Church interior redecorating includes sanding/refinishing the floor and pews. Ladies Aid, Ladies Circles and Bethany Society contribute new carpeting in narthex and balcony. May-June multiple centennial special services were held; 1,000 served at noon meal May 31st. Half of thank offering designated for church redecorading; 35% to Taiwan school; 15% purchased furnishings for chapel at District One Hospital, Faribault. 1972 125th anniversary of Missouri Synod year long celebration; thank offering taken in May. Pastor James Foley left to train for an inner city congregation training; Rev. Charles Pearson replaced him at Trinity. 1973 In January, 16 members began the two year, in-depth Bethel Bible Series leadership training, followed by conducting training for several hundred Trinity members. In October, Trinity women were given the right to vote by a church constitution amendment; age requirement changed from 21 to 18 yrs. The school basement room refurbished to be school library. 1974 The Jirik property east of Trinity School was purchased. Pastor Pearson accepted a call from Hope Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO. 1975 Rev. Edgar Eifert installed as assistant pastor to fill Pastor Pearson�s position. Peace and Trinity jointly sponsor a Vietnamese family. Trinity housed the family in the former Jirik home. Members befriended them, taught English and helped the adjustment to new surroundings. Trinity School celebrates 100 years with special services in April. Jr. Great Books indepth reading program begins; still being used in 1995. 1976 In May, more property on Fifth Street is purchased for $14,600. 1977 Parsonage at 225 Minnesota Place sold for $50,000 after Pastor Cloeter purchased his own home. Trinity establishes the acolytes position for church youth; volunteers made robes for those who serve. 1978 In Spring, the long oak communion railing and communion altar were constructed and installed by volunteers. Aug. 20th, Pastor Cloeter preaches farewell sermon ending twenty-one and one-half years as Trinity's senior pastor, to serve as the elected Pres. of the Minnesota South District for Missouri Synod. Pastor Eifert assumes all pastoral duties during vacancy. 1979 Aug. 19th Rev. Robert Snyder installed as senior pastor replacing Pastor Cloeter. 1980 Synod-wide "Forward In Remembrance" mission program begun; Trinity pledges and successfully contributes $118,000. 1982 Spring, voters adopt Lutheran Worship Hymnal to be used at Trinity. In April, former Trinity member, Rev. Paul Volz is guest speaker at the Minnesota District Centennial celebration. 1983 May 6th named Leona Kiekenapp Day to celebrate retirement after 35 yrs. Service as church secretary. Jeanette Anderson fills her position. September, Trinity observes 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's birthday by hosting a combined circuit celebration. 1984 After years of debate, meetings, forums, plans and revised plans, a partial church remodeling plan accepted at a voter's meeting. 1985 Sept. 8th, Rev. Steven Kuehne installed as assistant pastor replacing Pastor Eifert's resignation, but agrees to work part time as a visitation pastor. The Prayer Chain group is established; continues activity in 1995 (ed. still active in 2005). 1987 Pre-school started, using kindergarten room on alternate days. The 1984 motion to remodel is rescinded; at the same meeting, voters approve construction of a new church. Committees assigned to begin work, including the Building Committee consulting BE Architects of Lake Elmo, MN, to develop plans for congregational consideration. Special Works Committee studies feasibility of volunteer labor to reduce building costs. Heritage Committee surveys congregation to establish a prioritized list of existing church items to be incorporated into the new building. Public Relations Committee begins a publication titled "ANEW UPDATE" to keep members informed of construction progress. Finance Committee conducts every member fund drive with positive response. Extra financial boosts come from organizations, committees and individuals donating profits of numerous fund raising events; special designated funding from women's organizations paying for all kitchen furnishings and their construction costs. Congregations limits borrowed funds not to exceed $350,000, resulting in numerous building plans being well received, but rejected as too costly. Voters vote to build in stages, beginning with Phase One to include the sanctuary, narthex, fellowship room, kitchen, restrooms and a mechanical area. Finally with more modifications, a plan was approved with BE Construction of Lake Elmo, MN awarded the contract. 1988 Preschool met for one term in rented room at State Academy for Deaf; preschool dropped for two years. 1989 June 25th, ground breaking unity service in the auditorium with outdoor shovel ceremony to a "Holy God We Praise Your Name" theme. July, volunteers work beside the professionals successfully. Sept. 17th worshipers were invited to tour construction site. Building Committee provides guidance and answer questions. Volunteer efforts accelerated; Peace Lutheran volunteers add support. Ultimately, volunteer efforts saved nearly $100,000 of the total $1.2 million cost. 1990 Principal becomes full time school administrator without classroom responsibilities. Easter Sunday services were first services in new sanctuary. Accelerated volunteer efforts enabled the trumpets to sound on April 15th, the choirs to sing, pews to be packed with worshipers. A huge milestone! "Christ is our Cornerstone" was the theme of the Cornerstone Laying Service April 22nd. Formal dedication Festival was Sun., May 20th. Following a short Valedictory Service in the old church, the congregation processed to the new church where Dr. O. H. Cloeter spoke on "Enter to Worship-Depart to Serve". In June a recognition dinner was held for volunteers on the building project. June 10th Trinity invited the community to an open house. 1991 Preschool starts again in newly finished nursery/preschool room. Feb. 28th, Trinity School students attend special prayer service of thanksgiving when the national Kuwait action ended. 1992 Karen Heyer Murphy (Trinity confirmand 1957) hired as part-time secretary in the Fall. A December highlight was the play "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" directed by Barbara Beatty and Nancy Boldt. Cast included all ages and genders of church members. Teacher and organist, H. Cloeter, resigns; Rebecca Fritz becomes full-time music director for school and church. Gary Fritz becomes youth director and parttime teacher. 1993 Karen Murphy resigns; Kathy Hessler replaces her. June 6th an outdoor Mission Fest is held at Roger Heiden home. Bible translators Steve and Doreen Lazicki are guest missioners. In the Fall, the Great Commission Convocation held in Minneapolis with the theme "Shine Like Stars". 1994 January, the Mission Board began the "Paper Missionaries" project. Bible and hymnal donations, as well as other devotional materials, exceeded all expectations. Volunteers mailed 35 packages to missions in India, Africa and New Guinea. Projects repeated in July. Maundy Thursday diners filled the auditorium for a "Christian Haggadah" seder meal, Trinity's third. Pastor Kuehne prepared a printed program to aid participants in understanding the meal's sections. Joel Kuehne sang as the questioning child. The meal concluded with elders serving the Lord's Supper at the dinner tables. Good Friday's late service was most meaningful. Music, readings and constant drum beating helped worshipers experience the message of Christ's suffering and death. April 24th, Jeanette Anderson retires 11 years as church secretary with special reception. Fall,"Life Light" in-depth Bible study introduced. September, Theresa Kelm succeeds Kathy Hessler as church secretary. School enrollment 1994-1995 is 151 in grades K-8 with 12 in preschool and 11 staff personnel. Trinity and Peace Luth. Begin an interchange of upper grade classes; consolidation of two schools is studied. 1995 Jan. 1st, Trinity Lutheran Church of Faribault, MN begins their year long 125th anniversary celebration. A dedicated goal to retire the building debt, financing a special mission project and financing a community project is established.