About Us:

The majority of German immigrants to the United States were Lutherans who came from the seat of the Lutheran Reformation. The failure of the Revolution of 1848 in the Germanies sent thousands to America seeking political asylum, economic opportunity, and freedom from military conscription.

Efforts to organize these Lutherans were attempted as early as the 1820's by occasional ministers or itinerant Lutheran pastors. On August 18, 1833, the Rev. Fredrich Schmid held the first Lutheran service at John Haik's carpenter shop (where Ford Auditorium now stands). Rev. Schmid left for Scio Township (Ann Arbor) and established Salem Lutheran Church, the first Lutheran Church in Michigan. Five weeks later Rev. Schmid returned to Detroit and began the German Protestant Church. For the next three years he periodically returned to Detroit to conduct Lutheran services and administer the sacraments

The German Evangelical State Church, at that time, was made up of Lutheran and Reformed pastors. The next pastor to arrive in Detroit was Rev. E. P. Schwabe who took over the Lutheran and Reformed work in Detroit. As a Reformed pastor, he then established the congregation as St. John Evangelical and Reformed Lutheran Church on Monroe Street. Today this parish is Old St. John's (St. John - St. Luke United Church of Christ) located across Gratiot from Trinity. During this period, Lutheran work was at a standstill.