Saint Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church of Milwaukee - History

History

St. Stephen's was originally established as a mission church called Die Evangelische-Lutherische St. Stephanus-Gemeinde in 1853. It was organized by members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod to serve parishioners located south of the Menomonee River, and quartered in an old abandoned school building near 3rd and National Avenue. The congregation officially founded in 1854 and was composed mostly of German immigrants.

In 1857 the congregation moved to 5th and Mineral Street, where a church was built for $2,200 plus $650 for land. An accompanying school building was erected in 1865.

Due to an increase in membership a larger building was soon needed. The old frame church was sold to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church for $4,500 and moved to a new location. A lot on the corner of 5th and Scott Street was purchased for $1,900 and a new church built in 1866 for $20,000. A tower was later added in 1879, containing a four faced clock installed by E. Howard & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts.

With the need for extensive repairs looming by 1901, it was decided to raze the building while incorporating the tower in to a new structure. Architect Otto Uehling drew up plans for the present church building which cost $43,000 to construct. It is of gothic design and built using red brick trimmed with limestone. The tower was also resurfaced in these materials.

In July 1902 the first organ was dedicated. The present organ, a 3-manual Wangerin organ with 2,100 pipes, was installed in 1941. After more than a year of renovation and the installation of a new console, the organ was re-dedicated in 2004 as part of the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the congregation.

An influx of Mexican immigrants to the area began in the 1930s, during a labor shortage experienced by many of the local tanneries. This, along with the German-American population following the urban sprawl of the 1950s, helped the area to become predominantly Hispanic. In 1964 St. Stephen's was designated a Spanish Mission Church and began offering services in Spanish. Services in English had been introduced in the 1920s.