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Serving in the Name of Christ Since 1868
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Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill dates back to 1868, fourteen years after its original thought by the organization of the Scandinavian Lutheran Congregation. At first, the church was called the Scandinavian Lutheran Church Society, but within a year, the name of the church changed to Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation. For the first two years, services were held in the homes of members, in an old courthouse, and at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church until the church’s first site was selected. However, the church was built on a hill of sandy soil forcing the first pastor, Pastor Normann, and congregation to continually bring in more sand to support the foundation after rains. Hence, the first site did not conform to the words of the hymn, "Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand," and would need to be built elsewhere.
From 1872 to 1882, Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation moved to a number of different locations, and four different pastors served the church but were called to different congregations. The final location of the church was purchased around 1909. In 1915, the church structure, which still exists today, was dedicated with many former pastors and dignitaries in attendance. Over the next couple of years, services transitioned from being conducted in Norwegian to English. The leaders of the congregation officially changed the name of the church to Christ Lutheran Church in 1918.
In 1934, Reverend A.E. Hanson was called as the associate pastor to Christ Lutheran. He made a great deal of progress with Sunday school, youth work and built up church membership in the congregation. Also during his service, a beautiful Botticino marble altar was donated, and continues to stand at the front of the sanctuary today.
Communion participation reached its height during the years of leadership under Reverend Mandus A. Egge (1934-1957). Rev. Egge was responsible for the beginnings of many different urban renewal projects that changed the entire structure of the community. The first Sunday school for the Mentally Challenged was also created under the leadership of Egge in 1953.
The Emperor of Ethiopia visited Christ Lutheran Church in 1954. He presented the congregation with an Ethiopian Orthodox Church processional cross, which can be seen on most Sundays during the processional entry.
During the 1960s, there were many renovations to the church building. A new building addition was added in 1963. New education facilities, district office spaces and church offices were installed, and the Parish hall and the church kitchen were remodeled. Further, the Christ Lutheran Capitol Hill Foundation was established in 1967, which continues to play a key role in church finances today.
Christ Lutheran Church has experienced many changes and additions over the years. The church building is very similar to what it was after the renovations in the 1960s, but the congregation is entirely different. What was once an all Norwegian congregation is now a mix of Africans, Asians and Caucasians. With the ever-changing nature of its surrounding neighborhood, Christ Lutheran Church looks forward to its continued service to the community in the name of Christ.
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