The Pastorate of C. J. Krahnke
1927-1947
The entire pastoral work was now in the hands of Pastor Krahnke. The personnel of church officers were increased to provide for more lay assistance.
In the summer of 1927 changes were made inside the church building. The side balconies were removed; the rear balcony was extended; new stained glass windows replaced the old ones; new lighting fixtures were installed and the whole interior was redecorated. Furthermore, early in 1928 plans developed for replacing the old organ. In March it was resolved to purchase a Reuter pipe organ. Voluntary contributions more than met the purchase price of $7,800.00 by the time of dedication in the summer of 1927. Several copies are extant of an organ recital on Sunday, August 12, 1928.
It was in August, 1928, that the congregation joined the association of the Lutheran Home for the Aged (Altenheim) at Monroe, which Trinity people had for some years supported.
Trinity's seventieth anniversary occurred in July, 1931. Festival services of praise to God were held on a fitting Sunday. At 9:15 the German sermon was delivered by former Pastor F. C. Bauer, who was living in retirement at Royal Oak. English services at 10:45 and at 7:30 featured Prof. R. Neitzel of Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois. The evening service drew attention to the 68-year history of Trinity School.
Trinity's first Easter Sunrise service was held in 1933. The erection of a new parsonage was resolved upon in July, 1933. The old parsonage, built in 1872 had stood originally on part of the present school site. Several remodeling, and the removal in 1907 to the present parsonage location beside the 1888 church, had helped to make history for the 61-year-old house. The new parsonage was completed in October, 1933. Total cost about $5,500.00. The building contract had been awarded to Mr. Fred Classon.
At this time there developed more interest for a new school building to replace the 1908 structure. However, as Pastor Krahnke wrote in the 1936 "Diamond Jubilee" booklet, "A new school still remains a hoped for necessity." Under God, this hope was finally to be realized at the school dedication service of April 1, 1951.
The year 1936 brought the congregation's seventy-fifth anniversary. A few copies remain of the historical book, "Diamond Jubilee" by Pastor Krahnke. A sentence therein written is herewith repeated as applicable always: "Only Judgment Day will reveal all the great things the Lord has done for and through Trinity Congregation." For the jubilee observance the church and school were redecorated, and new church pews were purchased by the Ladies Aid Society as a memorial to Pastor Bauer.
The Double Pastorate of
C. J. Krahnke and E. A. Hessler
1940-1945
In April of 1940, E. A. Hessler was officially called as associate pastor. Including a leave of absence to serve as war-time chaplain, Pastor Hessler's ministry at Trinity lasted until 1945.
In 1941 a number of Trinity members in the Trenton area and some mission prospects formed the nucleus for a new congregation there. The first service was held in the old Trenton High School with 84 in attendance. This was on October 19. Then in November Trinity gave formal release to a group of 64 members to organize what today is St. Paul's congregation in Trenton.
December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor left its mark. There followed the long and anxious months of World War II, days of deep concern, prayers in public and in private for Trinity members in Service, honor rolls, air-raids wardens, air-raid insurance, purchases of War Bonds, activity at Detroit's Lutheran Service Center, and special offerings for the support of the Synodical ministry to Lutherans in uniform.
On the evening of February 28, 1943, Trinity congregation held a special service of thanksgiving to God. The occasion marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Mr. Kowitz as a Lutheran teacher. This was followed by a leave of absence granted to Pastor Hessler to enter the military chaplaincy. The congregation held a valedictory service on April 4, listing also the other congregation members serving their country.
The first mention is found in Trinity's 1945 minutes of the Fort Street mission, which became Peace Lutheran Church.
Pastoral help also became an issue. Pastor Hessler, who had returned from chaplaincy under medical care, resigned this associate pastorate in the fall of 1945. He had served his Lord, his country, and Trinity congregation.
After having planned for years to replace the old 1908 school building on the same site, the congregation resolved in April, 1946, to erect the proposed building on Wyandotte’s west side. Property at Vinewood and Twentieth Streets was purchased for $17,000.00. Architects engaged were Maul and Lenz of Detroit. This relocation venture was to suffer a deeply disturbing reversal in June, 1949.
The Pastorate of W. A. Pieper
1946-1953
In May, 1946, the congregation called Pastor Walter A. Pieper, of Clifford, Ontario, to succeed Pastor Hessler as associate to Pastor Krahnke. Although the housing situation for the new pastor remained unsettled, he and his family came to Trinity in July.
The eighty-fifth anniversary of the congregation was also observed in 1946. Thus the year was filled with noteworthy developments.
Bereavement came to Trinity congregation when on July 5 Pastor Krahnke was called from his earthly labors by the Lord of the church. There had been some months of serious illness, after having served Trinity congregation energetically for twenty years.
On Sunday evening, November 23, 1947, former Trinity Pastor, Rev. Hessler, preached at a special service, at which the Service Flag was removed from display in the church and certificates were presented to about 180 Service Men and Women, as well as to a number of Gold Star mothers. The Service Flag remains in Trinity’s archives.
The Double Pastorate of
Walter A. Pieper and P. F. Wieneke
1948-1953
Early in February of 1948 Pastor Wienke and family arrived in Wyandotte. Installation service was on Sunday morning, February 8. A reception was held in the evening, and on the following Sunday morning the new associate pastor preached his inaugural sermon.
Weekly religious radio devotions over a local FM station involved Trinity’s pastors and others, beginning at this time and lasting intermittently through 1950. Service was increasingly evident; and so, beginning November 7, 1948, the following schedule obtained: German at 8:30; English at 9:30 and 11:00; Sunday school at 9:30. This schedule was retained until Easter 1961, except for gradual decrease of German services.
The month of June 1949 brought a sudden, shocking disappointment. It was revealed that, because of land contract restrictions in abstracts involving two separate subdivisions, the well-developed plan to build a school on the Vinewood and Twentieth property had to be abandoned.
There followed weeks of soul searching and site seeking, and a brief lull in method and morale! But by God’s grace Trinity congregation rallied, and resolved in September to build the new school on the site of the old. Such are the ways of the Lord!
In 1950, with the assistance of Mr. Clyde Ludwig, realtor, the Vinewood property was sold for $17,600.00. Building Bonds were sold thru the efforts of many. Ground-breaking for the new building was on Sunday, May 7, between morning services. The old 1908 school building was razed, and on Sunday afternoon, August 27, the cornerstone-laying service was held. Copies of the service are in Trinity’s files.
A decision was made in 1950 to sell the two dwellings at Maple and Fifth. More suitable housing was sought for Pastor Wieneke’s family. This materialized in January, 1951. In 1950, also, a Wednesday evening Bible Hour was a successful part of the congregation’s pattern. That lasted several years. Trinity School took part in the First Annual Lutheran Schools Music Festival in Detroit.
Construction of the school building proceeded well, making possible its occupancy by faculty and pupils beginning March 7, 1951. A formal service of dedication was held on the afternoon of April 1, with Pastor W. F. Lichtsinn, Synodical Vice-President, delivering the sermon. Copies of the service folder are in our files. On Wednesday evening of the same week a dedication banquet was held in the new gymnasium. Pastor E. A. Hessler, formerly with Trinity, was the main speaker. As the Lord willed, Mr. Walter Maul, the building’s architect, died suddenly the same week.
Other 1951 notes: Trinity had more than twenty members in Service (Korean War). The congregation sold the Maple and Fifth St. property, on of the homes to Teacher Metzger.
The month of June saw the beginning of a new mission at Eureka and Trenton Roads (now Southgate). Pastors Pieper and Wieneke had previously persuaded Michigan District officials to initiate such expansion. In October, 1951, at the dedication of the first chapel, the name “Christ the King” was chosen and the first pastor, W. L. Biesenthal, formally installed. God has blessed the parish with good growth.
Further aspects of congregational life in 1952 deserve mention. A local group of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League was started, generating mission interest that has continued among the ladies who give this cause their attention. The dedication on April 27 of Peace Church’s new building was an event gratifying also to Trinity people.
It was also in September, 1953, that Pastor Walter A. Pieper accepted a call to Sebewaing, Michigan, after having served Trinity since 1946. He preached his farewell sermon on September 20 and on the evening of that day was presented with gifts from congregation and groups at an informal leave-taking. The departure of Pastor Pieper and family ended a double pastorate of five years. It seemed wise, also because of general shortage of pastors in the Synod, to continue with a single pastorate at Trinity. Under God, devoted efforts by many members, especially by our school faculty and church officers, have gone far to make this pattern workable for many years.
The Pastorate of P. F. Wieneke
1953-1966
Pastor Wieneke and family moved into the parsonage at 515 Oak St. late in September, 1953. The Year 1953 brought several other occasions to note. On Sunday evening, August 2, a Vesper Hymn sing was arranged at Bishop Park, with Trinity Choir and people worshiping God outdoors. Teacher R. Metzger’s twenty-fifth anniversary in the profession was observed on Sunday evening, October 23, with a service of Thanksgiving to God and a monetary gift to the celebrant. The work of revising the congregation’s Constitution and By-Laws culminated in the resolution on November 16 to distribute the same to members in printed booklet form. Late in 1953 also the decision was made to celebrate Holy Communion on the third, as well as the first, Sunday of each month.
Trinity congregation members felt deeply the hand of the Lord after Christmas, when Mr. Walter Voight, teacher and music director since 1946, was called out of his life. His mastery at the organ and with choirs will long be remembered.
Members may recall several other 1955 matters, such as the increasing emphasis placed on planning for a new church building, the July 4 auto accident that demolished the parsonage front porch, and the first showing here of the “Martin Luther” film.
The School faculty in September, 1955, consisted of four called teachers- R. Metzger, F. Kowitz, A. Schmeling, C. Storck, and Mrs. R. Metzger.
Events of 1956 lead themselves to brief summary. There was the discontinuance of the long-standing mimeographed yearbook; the beginning of a two-year period of a printed parish paper named “The Trinity Lutheran;” the formation of Couples Club that continued several years; the appreciated action of the Voters Assembly in giving Pastor and Mrs. Wieneke a trip as guests to the June synodical convention at St. Paul, Minnesota; the congregations decision to join the Lutheran High School Association; the increased efforts in stewardship development; and the more intense looking ahead toward building a new church and toward the approaching 1961 centennial.
During 1957 a special Planning Committee explored the preliminary outlook for a new church building and recommended positive steps. Other events of the year were: a well-attended Easter Sunrise service (April 21) at Fort George Drive-In Theatre, sponsored by Peace, Christ the King, and Trinity Churches; the reduction of German Services to two times per month.
At the start of 1958, communicant membership numbered about 1,000. The truly vital marks, church and communion attendance, have seen improvement.
During 1958 the Voters Assembly resolved definitely to replace the old church building on the same site.
In 1959 there was initiated the Unified Budget system which is operative today. With the lone exception of the Building Fund, all purposes are served percentage-wise, with twenty-five percent or more going for Missions and Synod. The total Unified Budget for 1959 was $75,000.00.
Building efforts culminated in April in the issuance of “Trinity Builds,” an illustrated brochure, used by about a hundred visitors who obtained pledges for the new church building totaling nearly $150,000.00 and reaching over a period of three years.
The Michigan District conducted a vast move in soul-winning with its Preaching-Teaching-Reaching Mission (Open House) during the first week of November, 1959. The success of the soul-winning venture stimulated much interest in Evangelism at Trinity and in the District at large.
In March of 1960 a class of 25 adults was confirmed as resulting from the Open House Evangelism. On Good Friday, a special community worship service was provided by Trinity at the Wyandotte Theatre. Beginning in July, the number of German Services was reduced to once a month. At the August convention of the Michigan District, Pastor Ripke, of River Rouge, was elected to succeed Pastor Wieneke as Circuit Counselor.
Trinity’s centennial year, 1961, was marked of course, with preparations for the anniversary observance. This was planned for September 17 and 24, rather than for July 13, the exact date of the congregation’s official beginning.
Church building actually got underway. On March 18 the 1888 cornerstone was removed and its contents displayed. Trinity’s choirs presented a farewell concert in the old church on Wednesday, March 22. On Palm Sunday, March 26, the last youth confirmation service in the old building listed 34 new members.
Easter Sunday, April 2, 1961 was memorable. The final German service, after a hundred years was held; and the final services in the 73-year-old church building brought the end of an era. The Board of Elders led with arrangements to conduct services in the school auditorium beginning Sunday, April 9. At the same time, the Sunday morning schedule was adjusted to the following: Service at 8:30; Sunday school at 9:45; Service at 11:00.
The Arrow Wrecking Co. was engaged to raze the old church at a cost of $3390.00. On May 1 a goodly crowd of onlookers watched the steeple fall after serving as a familiar landmark for years.
Construction began promptly. Accepted bids totaled $268,046.00. Additional features brought the total estimated cost to $316,496.00. A loan arrangement with the Lutheran Fraternities of America in the amount of $176,000.00 assured complete financing.
Several events of June, 1961, are yet to be noted as we reach the final pages of Trinity’s one-hundred-year history. During this month Christ the King celebrated its tenth anniversary. Immanuel Church relocated and dedicated its new house of worship in adjacent Riverview, leaving Trinity as the only Lutheran congregation in Wyandotte. Trinity continued church building operations in the summer of 1961 and anticipated the centennial observance in September.
Construction of the new church proceeded smoothly, so that on October 8 the cornerstone was laid, and this alongside the previously re-set stone from the 1888 building. On this occasion Trinity’s people and choir assembled at the partly-finished edifice. The Pastor spoke on the text, “You are God’s building,” 1 Corinthians 3:9.
By singular blessing of God, the congregation was able to keep to the projected church dedication date, the Feast of the Holy Trinity, June 17, 1962. What was an unforgettable day, the culmination of effort of so many! The special Dedication Day booklet, marked by Trinity’s own distinctive Trinitarian symbol, carried the day’s orders of worship, a description of the building, a list of gifts and memorials, and additional acknowledgements. For the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. dedication services sermon theme was “How Holy is the Place”, Genesis 28:16-17. In the afternoon, many area visitors joined Trinity members in the special festival worship.
The month of June, 1962, brought also the retirement from classroom duties of Teacher Kowitz. His faithful service to Trinity Congregation had begun in 1918, and over the years had extended to manifold areas of church life. Trinity people of several generations can scarcely ever forget this man’s untiring devotion.
By some strange and silent strategy on the part of many, Pastor Wieneke was surprised on Sunday, February 10, 1963, by a well-planned anniversary celebration. It was his twenty-fifth anniversary in the ministry and the fifteenth year of his pastorate at Trinity. A reception that featured kind greetings and generous gifts, and the note of gratitude to God for the office of the ministry, will ever be gratefully recalled. To God alone the praise!
Trinity’s Voters Assembly in October of 1963 officially approved a revision of the congregation’s administrative rules. Primarily in the By-laws, the pattern of officers and boards was updated. The actual printing and issuance of the new Constitution and By-laws came in 1964.
Events during the first half of 1965 included the dedication of the new church building of Christ the King, on Appril 25, which many Trinity members attended; a neighborhood canvass in May by some 30 Trinity members, witnessing for Christ at almost 400 homes; the Missouri Synod convention in June at Detroit, attended by some members.
On October 10, 1965, the congregation took note of the tenth anniversary of Mr. Charles L. Storck as teacher in our Day School and as Trinity's Music Director